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Louis XV

Jean Daullé

1738

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque 18th Century Portrait Louis Xiv of France

Dominant colour

Louis XV is a 1738 ink by Jean Daullé, a Baroque work, depicting Louis Xiv of France, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jean Daullé
When & what style?: 1738 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

Louis XV sits straight in a chair. His wig is huge, white curls stacked high. The king wears a dark coat with fancy buttons. Light hits his face. His eyes look right at you. He’s printed, not painted. The artist used a metal plate to carve lines. Ink pressed into those lines, then onto paper. It’s called engraving. Cross-hatching makes shadows soft or sharp. This print shows the king’s power in small details. See the lace on his cuff? It took forever to cut. Look up Daullé, Jean next.