Who painted The Young Louis XV?

The Young Louis XV was painted by Pierre Gobert in 1714.

Where can I see The Young Louis XV?

The Young Louis XV is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is The Young Louis XV?

The Young Louis XV is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of The Young Louis XV?

Museum-quality prints of The Young Louis XV are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Young Louis XV

Pierre Gobert , 1714

The Young Louis XV is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pierre Gobert. It dates from 1714 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The image captures the duality of the sitter's identity, combining the innocence of youth with the heavy symbolism of state power.

Painted by Pierre Gobert in 1714, this work portrays Louis XV of France as a young child. The subject is depicted wearing the insignia of the Order of the Holy Spirit, a prestigious chivalric order, which serves as a primary iconographic element symbolizing his royal status and future role as monarch. By presenting the future king adorned with such high honors while still a minor, the portrait functions as a political statement of legitimate succession and dynastic continuity.

The image captures the duality of the sitter's identity, combining the innocence of youth with the heavy symbolism of state power.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1714 by Pierre Gobert, this work is an oil painting on canvas. The portrait measures 129 cm in height and 98 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on the youthful depiction of Louis XV, who is shown wearing the insignia of the Order of the Holy Spirit.

The piece is classified as a formal painting and is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

History & Provenance

Painted in 1714 by Pierre Gobert, the portrait belongs to the earliest documented depictions of Louis XV as a child. The work was commissioned within the cultural patronage networks surrounding the French court during the Regency period. It later entered the collection of Liselotte von der Pfalz, Duchess of Orléans and sister-in-law of Louis XIV, whose name appears in the painting’s early provenance. By the nineteenth century the canvas had transferred to the Museo del Prado, where it remains today.

The work is held in the Museo del Prado, where it bears the inventory number P00968. It was created by Pierre Gobert in 1714 as an oil painting on canvas, measuring 129 cm by 98 cm. The painting has been exhibited at least once, when it was shown as part of the exhibition "Liselotte von der Pfalz, Madame at the Sun King’s Court".

Overview

Pierre Gobert’s 1714 oil on canvas, titled The Young Louis XV, portrays the future French monarch as a child. The work is part of the collection of Madrid’s Museo del Prado. It presents the young prince in sumptuous costume, surrounded by symbolic animal companions, set against a subdued dark backdrop that draws attention to his elaborate dress.

Context

The portrait reflects the political practice of presenting the heir apparent in regal attire to affirm dynastic continuity. By emphasizing the Order of the Holy Spirit, Gobert underscores the young king’s future role within France’s highest religious‑military order, while the luxurious costume signals the wealth and cultural aspirations of the early Bourbon court.