Louis XVI of France (1754-1793)

Joseph Siffred Duplessis's portrait of Louis XVI (c. 1775-1800) depicts the last king of the Ancien Régime before the Revolution transformed France forever. Duplessis was the official royal portraitist, and his images of Louis XVI established the standard likeness of the king that was reproduced in countless copies for government buildings, embassies, and loyal subjects throughout France. Multiple versions of this portrait were produced to meet the enormous demand for royal images in an era when the king's portrait served as a symbol of sovereign authority in institutions across the realm.

Duplessis's official portrait technique combines precise rendering of the royal costume and decorations with a sympathetic treatment of the king's features, using the polished, dignified approach expected of Bourbon court portraiture.