Who painted Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre?

Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre was painted by Rigaud Hyacinthe in 1715-01-01.

Where can I see Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre?

Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre?

Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre?

Museum-quality prints of Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre

Rigaud Hyacinthe , 1715

Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Rigaud Hyacinthe. It dates from 1715 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition projects royal authority through the symbolic weight of the coronation attire rather than through depiction of the ceremony itself.

The painting depicts Louis XV of France at the age of five, portrayed in the ceremonial costume used for the royal coronation, known as the Sacre. Created by Hyacinthe Rigaud in 1715, the work functions as a formal portrait within the Baroque tradition, emphasizing the young monarch's status despite his youth. By dressing the child king in regalia associated with the adult coronation ritual, the artist visually asserts the continuity and legitimacy of the Bourbon dynasty during a period of transition.

The composition projects royal authority through the symbolic weight of the coronation attire rather than through depiction of the ceremony itself.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a typical medium for Rigaud's portraiture. The paint handling reflects the Baroque manner associated with the artist's oeuvre, with rich, layered brushwork that emphasizes texture and luminosity to convey the regal presence of the young Louis XV. The sources identify it as an oil-on-canvas portrait dating to 1715, aligning with Rigaud's mature Baroque style.

History & Provenance

Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre was executed by Hyacinthe Rigaud in 1715 as a royal likeness of the young French monarch. Painted in oil on canvas, the work measures 180 × 135 cm and exemplifies Baroque court portraiture, showing the future king in the ceremonial dress of the coronation. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The available sources do not specify an accession number or document a specific exhibition history for the work.

Legacy

The 1715 portrait of Louis XV as a child, executed by Hyacinthe Rigaud, has been referenced in scholarship as an example of French Baroque portraiture. Its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection has reinforced the painting's stature within studies of royal imagery and court aesthetics of the early 18th century.

Overview

This oil painting, Louis XV at the Age of Five in the Costume of the Sacre, presents the young French monarch in a formal, seated pose. Dressed in a blue robe adorned with gold fleurs-de-lis and a white, spotted cape, he holds a golden scepter, conveying a sense of regal authority. The background features dark red patterns, complementing his neatly styled curly hair.

Louis XV in Coronation Robes, Rigaud Hyacinthe

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Artist & collection

Artist

Rigaud Hyacinthe

Jacint Rigau-Ros i Serra (Catalan pronunciation:; 18 July 1659 – 29 December 1743), known in French as Hyacinthe Rigaud (pronounced ), was a Catalan-French baroque painter most famous for his portraits of Louis XIV and other members of the…