Louis, Dauphin of France (1729-1765) as a newborn

Belle employs the delicate brushwork and decorative elegance characteristic of the Rococo period. The contrast between the luminous white garments, the gilded accents, and the deep background creates a refined chiaroscuro that highlights the infant’s delicate features.

The portrait entered the royal collection and remains housed at the Palace of Versailles. Belle, trained by François de Troy, Hyacinthe Rigaud and Nicolas de Largillière, produced this work early in his career, shortly after his apprenticeship with these leading portraitists.

Created during the reign of Louis XV, the painting reflects the court’s practice of commemorating royal births with formal portraits. Such images served both as personal mementos and as political symbols affirming the continuity of the Bourbon line.