Who painted Louis XI?

Louis XI was painted by Jean Morin in 1625.

Where can I see Louis XI?

Louis XI is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Louis XI?

Louis XI is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Louis XI

Jean Morin , 1625

Louis XI is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jean Morin. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jean Morin’s 1625 print presents a profile portrait of the French monarch Louis XI. Executed on laid paper, the image is rendered in black and white, showing the king in a fur hat and a jeweled chain against a dark oval backdrop framed by a textured border. The composition emphasizes a solemn expression, achieved through careful shading that gives the figure a sense of depth.

Technique & Style

The resulting texture and tonal gradation are characteristic of Baroque print aesthetics.

The work combines three printmaking processes—etching, engraving, and stippling—on a single plate, a practice Morin helped popularize in the early seventeenth century. Etching supplies the initial lines, engraving adds precise incisions, and stippling creates tonal variation, allowing subtle modeling of facial features and fabric. The resulting texture and tonal gradation are characteristic of Baroque print aesthetics.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait focuses on Louis XI, who reigned from 1461 to 1483, portraying him in regal attire that underscores his authority. The fur hat and ornamental chain signal royal status, while the restrained, introspective expression may reflect contemporary views of the king’s political acumen and personal gravity.

History & Provenance

Created in 1625, the print reflects Morin’s interest in historical portraiture during a period when French artists frequently revisited national figures. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the piece has been catalogued among Morin’s oeuvre and appears in several nineteenth‑century collections of French Baroque prints.

Context

Morin worked at a time when printmakers were experimenting with hybrid techniques to achieve greater detail and tonal richness. His integration of etching and engraving on a single plate influenced peers and successors, contributing to the evolution of printmaking practices that allowed for more nuanced representation of historical subjects.