Intaglio Portrait of Louis XV

Description Guay made many gemstone portraits of King Louis XV, including this intaglio made of sard, a stone used for gem carving since antiquity. The naturalism of the king’s ringlets and plump double chin attests to Guay’s skill with the medium. The translucent luminosity of the orange stone and delicacy of the carving make it difficult to decipher the image. Red wax impressions as well as printed representations like those in Madame de Pompadour’s Suite (Walters 92.548) helped make gem carvings more legible.

Conservation

Examined in preparation for exhibition.

Cleaned in preparation for exhibition.

Date	Description	Narrative
8/05/2015	Examination	Examined
8/15/2015	Treatment	Cleaned

Exhibitions

• Madame de Pompadour, Patron and Printmaker. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2016.

Provenance Acquired by Henry Walters, Baltimore; by bequest to Mrs. Henry Walters, New York, 1931; purchased by Joseph Brummer, New York; purchased by Walters Art Museum, 1942.

Credit Museum purchase [formerly part of the Walters Collection], 1942