THE REAL LOUIS XVI—The Last Portrait—by Joseph Ducreux c. 1790
Joseph, Baron Ducreux was a French noble, portrait painter, pastelist, miniaturist, and engraver, who was a successful portraitist at the court of Louis XVI of France, and resumed his career at the conclusion of the French Revolution…
He was made a baron and premier peintre de la reine (First Painter to the Queen), and drew the last portrait ever made of Louis XVI before the king's execution…
Both of these portraits are said to have been drawn by Ducreux…
However, only one of these portraits was actually drawn by Ducreux circa 1790…
I’ll give you a few hints as to the one that is…
It’s the one with beautifully smooth color transitions, incredible realism, and intricate detail…
“Lewis XV was the handsomest youth in France, he had a swarthy complexion”
SOURCE;
(J. Dodsley, "The Annual Register, Or, A View of the History, Politics, and Literature for the Year 1774"; 1775)
The word Swarthy or Swart derives from ‘Schwarz’ or ‘Schwartz’ which means “to be black; black man, and negro
SOURCE;
(Flügel-Schmidt-Tanger, a Dictionary of the English and German Languages for Home and School; 1905)
Complexion = the natural color, texture, and appearance of a person's SKIN (not hair) especially of the face.
“Louis XIV [had] arched eyebrows, aquiline nose, and [a] BROWN complexion”
SOURCE;
(James Peller Malcom, "Londinium Redivivum Or an Ancient History and Modern Description of London, Compiled from Parochial Records, Archives of Various Foundations, the Harleian Mss. and Other Authentic Sources"; 1802)
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