Portret van Lodewijk Filips I van Orléans en zijn zoon Lodewijk Filips II van Orléans

About this artwork

Dubbelportret van Lodewijk Filips I van Orléans en zijn zoon Lodewijk Filips II van Orléans in de koninklijke biljartkamer.

Art Historical Context

Step into the opulent world of 18th-century French aristocracy with *Portret van Lodewijk Filips I van Orléans en zijn zoon Lodewijk Filips II van Orléans*, an etching by Louis de Carmontelle from 1759. This double portrait captures a tender father-son moment in the royal billiard room, a space evoking leisure and privilege amid the grandeur of the Ancien Régime. Measuring 297mm by 228mm, the work showcases Carmontelle's skill in etching—a precise intaglio technique where acid bites into a metal plate to create fine lines, allowing for detailed reproductions of intimate scenes that could be widely shared among the elite. Louis Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, was a prominent noble and influential figure during Louis XV's reign, later ascending as King of the French in 1830. His son, Louis Philippe II, would inherit the title and play key roles in revolutionary politics. Carmontelle, a versatile artist, draughtsman, and court insider, excelled at portraying the beau monde in candid, lively vignettes, blending formality with everyday humanity. This piece offers a glimpse into Orléans family dynamics, highlighting their status through the billiard room's refined setting. As an etching, it reflects the era's growing fascination with printmaking for disseminating aristocratic imagery, bridging portraiture and social commentary. A charming window into pre-Revolutionary France, it invites visitors to ponder the personal lives behind political legacies.