Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Intaglio Portrait of Louis XV
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.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
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.
Exhibitions
| 2016 | Madame de Pompadour, Patron and Printmaker. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. |
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| 8/5/2015 | Examination | Examined |
| 8/5/2015 | Examination | Examined in preparation for exhibition. |
| 8/15/2015 | Treatment | Cleaned |
| 8/15/2015 | Treatment | Cleaned in preparation for exhibition. |
Geographies
France (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 11/16 × W: 9/16 × D: 1/16 in. (1.7 × 1.4 × 0.2 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase [formerly part of the Walters Collection], 1942
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
42.1015