Artwork
Louis XV in Coronation Robes
Louis XV in Coronation Robes is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Rigaud Hyacinthe. It dates from 1730 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles. Created in 1730, this oil painting presents the young monarch Louis XV dressed in full coronation regalia.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1730, this oil painting presents the young monarch Louis XV dressed in full coronation regalia. The work, executed by the French Baroque portraitist Hyacinthe Rigaud, is housed in the collection of the Palace of Versailles. It exemplifies the courtly portrait tradition of early eighteenth‑century France.
Subject & Meaning
The king is shown standing amid an opulent interior, clothed in a white robe trimmed with gold, a blue mantle bearing fleur‑de‑lis, and white stockings and shoes. He holds a scepter in his right hand, while a crown rests on a blue‑covered table nearby, emphasizing his sovereign authority and the ceremonial aspects of his coronation.
Technique & Style
Rigaud employs a refined oil technique characteristic of the late Baroque moving toward Rococo, with smooth brushwork that renders luxurious fabrics and delicate lace. The composition balances rich textures—gold embroidery, velvet drapery, polished surfaces—against a restrained, almost sculptural rendering of the figure.
History & Provenance
Commissioned during Louis XV’s early reign, the portrait entered the royal collection and has remained at Versailles since the palace’s transformation into a museum. Its presence in the state’s holdings reflects the monarch’s desire to project continuity with the traditions of his predecessors.
Context
The painting belongs to a series of royal portraits that celebrated the monarchy’s ceremonial power during the Ancien Régime. It aligns with contemporary court portraiture that combined political propaganda with the emerging Rococo taste for elegance and decorative detail.
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Artist & collection
Artist
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…
