After François Bonneville (active 1787 - 1814)
Louis XVI from Portraits des personnages célèbres de la révolution, 1796
Engraving, 20.3 x 15.2 cm (8 x 6 in.)
This oval engraving is a bust-length portrait of Louis XVI, facing slightly to the viewer’s left. He is light-skinned and gazes intently at the viewer. He has a full face and lips, and his light hair is fashioned in curls above his ears. He wears a high-necked ruffled shirt and a dark jacket that is adorned with a large cross-shaped medal on his chest. There is braiding and embroidered trim around the neck and down the front of his jacket. The artist’s name and the text, Louis XVI, are below this image. This object, which appears to be a page from a book, has a dark background with white speckles throughout.
Long Gallery
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.