Dom Pedro V, Roi de Portugal et des Algraves

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 248 mm (binnen plaatrand afgesneden) x breedte 151 mm (binnen plaatrand afgesneden)

Art Historical Context

This steel engraving by Pierre Jean Edmond Castan (1827–1892) presents a formal portrait of Dom Pedro V, King of Portugal and the Algarves. The work captures the monarch in a dignified pose, reflecting the conventions of 19th-century royal imagery intended for wide circulation. Its modest dimensions of 248 by 151 mm suggest it was designed as a print for albums, books, or personal collections rather than large-scale display. Steel engraving, the medium employed here, offered exceptional precision and durability compared to earlier techniques like copper engraving. Artists could render fine lines and subtle shading that reproduced well in large editions, making such portraits accessible to a broader public during an era when photography was still emerging. Castan’s choice of this method underscores the era’s interest in disseminating images of European royalty with clarity and permanence. As a historical document, the print connects viewers to mid-19th-century Portugal through the figure of its young monarch. Though information about the exact creation date remains limited, the engraving exemplifies how printmaking served both artistic and commemorative purposes, preserving likenesses that helped shape public memory of rulers across borders.

About the Artist

Pierre Jean Edmond Castan · 1817–1892

Pierre Jean Edmond Castan (1817–1892) was a French Academic painter and engraver who specialized in genre scenes depicting the daily lives of working families in nineteenth-century France. Born in Toulouse in 1817, Castan studied under prominent academic masters including Michel Martin Drolling and François Gérard before establishing himself in Paris, where he exhibited regularly at the Salon from...