Louis, Dauphin of France, in right profile
Relief
1745 (made)
1745 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The French sculptor Edmé Bouchardon (1698–1762), worked in Paris and was also in Rome for ten years. He generally worked in a classical style seen here in his portrait of Louis, Dauphin of France (son of Louis XV), which is signed and dated 1745. The V&A has a related portrait of the Louis XV by Bouchardon (Museum number A.189-1969), signed and dated 1738.
According to a contemporary account of Bouchardon and his works (given in a posthumous 'Eloge Historique' to the Academy of Painting on 4 September 1762, by his admirer and friend Comte de Caylus), bronze medallions of Louis XV and the Dauphin were commissioned by comte de Maurepas for his château at Pontchartrain, and the King sat in order for Bouchardon to draw a portrait study which was used for medals, coins, and also a medallion portrait in bronze. The portraits of the King and Dauphin were subsequently unrecorded, but may well be those now at the V&A.
According to a contemporary account of Bouchardon and his works (given in a posthumous 'Eloge Historique' to the Academy of Painting on 4 September 1762, by his admirer and friend Comte de Caylus), bronze medallions of Louis XV and the Dauphin were commissioned by comte de Maurepas for his château at Pontchartrain, and the King sat in order for Bouchardon to draw a portrait study which was used for medals, coins, and also a medallion portrait in bronze. The portraits of the King and Dauphin were subsequently unrecorded, but may well be those now at the V&A.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Louis, Dauphin of France, in right profile (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Relief, bronze, of Louis, Dauphin of France, by Edme Bouchardon, French, 1745 |
| Physical description | Oval bronze relief with portrait of Louis, Dauphin of France in profile, facing right. His hair is curling and slightly below shoulder-length, swept back loosely with a ribbon in a manner used for portraits of his father Louis XV (likeness known as the 'Louis au Bandeau'). |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | ED. BOUCHARDON. EFFINGEBAT ANo. 1745 (Inscribed on bevel of neck) |
| Credit line | Purchased with assistance from the John Webb Trust |
| Object history | According to a contemporary account of Bouchardon and his works (given in a posthumous 'Eloge Historique' to the Academy of Painting on 4 September 1762, by his admirer and friend Comte de Caylus), bronze medallions of Louis XV and the Dauphin were commissioned from the sculptor by comte de Maurepas for his château at Pontchartrain. Caylus mentions that the King sat for Bouchardon and the resulting study by Bouchardon was used for medals and coins before being used for a bronze medallion relief for Maurepas. The reliefs of the King and also the Dauphin were subsequently unrecorded, but may well be this one and A.189-1969 (relief of the King), both at the V&A. |
| Historical context | Related drawing in the Cabinet des Dessins, Louvre (exh. 1973). |
| Summary | The French sculptor Edmé Bouchardon (1698–1762), worked in Paris and was also in Rome for ten years. He generally worked in a classical style seen here in his portrait of Louis, Dauphin of France (son of Louis XV), which is signed and dated 1745. The V&A has a related portrait of the Louis XV by Bouchardon (Museum number A.189-1969), signed and dated 1738. According to a contemporary account of Bouchardon and his works (given in a posthumous 'Eloge Historique' to the Academy of Painting on 4 September 1762, by his admirer and friend Comte de Caylus), bronze medallions of Louis XV and the Dauphin were commissioned by comte de Maurepas for his château at Pontchartrain, and the King sat in order for Bouchardon to draw a portrait study which was used for medals, coins, and also a medallion portrait in bronze. The portraits of the King and Dauphin were subsequently unrecorded, but may well be those now at the V&A. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.190-1969 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
