This finely executed engraving portrays Louis XVI, the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. Depicted in full regalia with the Order of the Holy Spirit prominently displayed on his chest, the king wears a richly embroidered coat and lace cravat, emblems of royal authority and courtly refinement. The portrait emphasizes the monarch’s solemn bearing and dignified poise, projecting an image of strength and stability. Yet, history would judge Louis XVI as a ruler caught between tradition and revolution. His reign was marked by mounting financial crises, political unrest, and ultimately the collapse of the ancien régime. In 1793, he was tried for treason and executed by guillotine, an event that profoundly reshaped the political landscape of Europe. Engravings such as this were widely circulated across Europe, serving as both royal iconography and historical documentation during an era of rapid change.

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