Who painted Portrait of Louis of France?

Portrait of Louis of France was painted by Louis Tocqué in 1739-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of Louis of France?

Portrait of Louis of France is held by Palace of Versailles.

What movement is Portrait of Louis of France?

Portrait of Louis of France is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of Louis of France?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of Louis of France are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Portrait of Louis of France by Louis Tocqué (1739)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Together these elements convey the political and moral preparation of the future monarch within the Ancien Régime.

Portrait of Louis, Dauphin of France (1739) depicts the heir apparent surrounded by attributes that signal his royal status and future responsibilities: a crown, sash, and richly embroidered garments identify him as a prince of the blood; a globe, sphere, and drawing reference his education and claim to universal authority; a book and tablet underscore his scholarly upbringing; the standing posture, index finger, column, and drapery invoke classical order and continuity; the child's clothing and the label crown prince affirm his designated succession. Together these elements convey the political and moral preparation of the future monarch within the Ancien Régime.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting on canvas executed in 1739 by Louis Tocqué. Measuring 195 cm in height and 144 cm in width, the composition depicts the future Louis XV’s son standing in court dress, holding a globe and an unfurled sheet, with drapery and a classical column to the side. The handling emphasizes crisp delineation of costume and anatomy, characteristic of Tocqué’s refined portrait style, while the palette remains restrained, punctuated by the sash’s deep blue and the boy’s fair wig.

No conservation notes or condition statements are provided in the cited records, so the current state cannot be assessed from these sources.

History & Provenance

Created in 1739, the oil-on-canvas portrait of Louis, Dauphin of France, was executed by the artist Louis Tocqué. The work depicts the five-year-old crown prince in full costume, standing beside a table with a globe and drawing materials. Originally produced during the reign of Louis XV, the painting is currently housed in the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles.

It forms part of the national collections managed by the Réunion des musées nationaux. The piece measures 195 by 144 centimeters and serves as a formal representation of the young heir apparent, capturing his status through specific iconographic elements such as the crown, sash, and embroidery.

The portrait is held within the Museum of the History of France, situated at the Palace of Versailles in Versailles. It forms part of the national collections managed by the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon. The work is cataloged in the French Ministry of Culture's Joconde database under the notice reference 000PE007331.

While the painting depicts Louis, Dauphin of France, the available records confirm its institutional location and database identification but do not list specific past exhibition events or a distinct accession number beyond the Joconde reference.

Legacy

The Portrait of Louis of France, painted by Louis Tocqué in 1739, has retained visibility through its inclusion in the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it remains on display. Its presence in the Joconde catalogue underscores scholarly acknowledgment of the work as a representative example of French portraiture from the reign of Louis XV. As part of the national collection, the painting continues to inform studies of 18th‑century court imagery and contributes to the historical reputation of Tocqué as a leading portraitist of the period.

Overview

Louis Tocqué's 1739 oil painting presents Louis, Dauphin of France, embodying the Rococo aesthetic. This artwork exemplifies the artist's specialization in portraiture, capturing the subject with a sense of refined grace characteristic of the era. The piece reflects the period's emphasis on elegance and a lighter touch in artistic representation.