Shop art print and framed art Louis de France (1729-1765), Dauphin, fils de Louis XV by Jean Martial Fredou

The Dauphin Louis of France in 1729-1765: A remarkable work by Jean-Martial Frédou

The history of French royal portraits is rich and fascinating. Among the many masterpieces that populate this history, one deserves particular attention: the portrait of Dauphin Louis de France, son of Louis XV, by Jean-Martial Frédou.

A sumptuous depiction of the young dauphin

The portrait shows the Dauphin Louis of France dressed in an elegant red velvet outfit adorned with rich embroidery and lace ornaments.He also wears a blue scarf slung over his shoulder and the cross of the Order of the Holy Spirit on his chest.The painter depicts the monarch in the exercise of his power, at his study.

A neutral background to highlight the Crown Prince

Behind the Dauphin, we can observe a neutral and sober background, devoid of decorative elements.This artistic choice highlights the painting's main subject, the Dauphin himself, and underlines the importance of his position as heir to the throne of France.

A historical context conducive to royal portraits

In the 18th century, during the reign of Louis XV, the production of royal portraits experienced a real boom. The king surrounded himself with a lavish court and had himself represented by the best painters of the time, in order to spread his image throughout the kingdom and assert his political power.The portraits were also given as gifts to foreign diplomats or exhibited at public events, reinforcing the prestige of the French monarchy throughout the world.

Jean-Martial Frédou, an artist at the service of the king

Jean-Martial Frédou (1710-1795) was a French painter specialising in the portrait genre.He began his career working for his uncle, Louis XIV, and quickly acquired a solid reputation thanks to his works of great finesse. In 1748, he was appointed Premier Peintre du roi (First Painter to the King), a prestigious position that testified to the confidence Louis XV placed in him to execute royal portraits.

The importance of this portrait in the work of Jean-Martial Frédou

The portrait of the Dauphin Louis of France is undoubtedly one of the major pieces in Jean-Martial Frédou's oeuvre. It demonstrates not only the artist's technical mastery, but also his ability to capture the essence of the subject depicted. Somewhere between realism and idealisation, this creation demonstrates true modernity for its time and heralds certain artistic trends to come.

Meticulous work on the features and drapery

In this painting, the care taken in depicting the Dauphin's face and his clothes clearly illustrates Frédou's talent for capturing the physical appearance of his models with precision. The rendering of textures (fabrics, embroidery) and the use of shimmering colours give the whole a great visual harmony.

Transmitting an artistic heritage

Beyond its aesthetic value, this portrait also symbolises Jean-Martial Frédou's attachment to the tradition of French royal portraits. Drawing inspiration from the great masters who preceded him (Rigaud, Largillière, Van Loo...), he helped to perpetuate and renew this art, whose influence would be felt well beyond the 18th century.

A work marking the evolution of the pictorial genre

Jean-Martial Frédou's portrait of the Dauphin Louis of France represents an important stage in the evolutionary process of French painting during the eighteenth century. Its artistic choices already foreshadow certain characteristics of the neoclassical movement, which would develop fully during the reign of Louis XVI.

This artwork is a painting from the classical period. It belongs to the neoclassicism style.

« Louis de France (1729-1765), Dauphin, fils de Louis XV » is kept at Musée et Domaine National de Versailles et de Trianon, Versailles, France.