The Will of Louis XVI: "Having God Alone As My Witness"
British artists here respond to events taking place during the French Revolution. In his prison cell in the Temple, before his execution, Louis XVI writes his will with light coming from a window at upper right. The lighting and his pose, with outstretched arms, compare him to traditional images of Christian martyrs. The king holds a quill in his right hand and his other rests on papers lying on a wooden table next to a crucifix. An oval image.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Will of Louis XVI: "Having God Alone As My Witness"
- Engraver: George Keating (British, 1762–1842)
- Artist: After Henry Singleton (British, London 1766–1839 London)
- Publisher: (?) Thomas Park (British, 1760–1835 London)
- Sitter: Louis XVI, King of France (French, Versailles 1754–1793 Paris)
- Date: January 1, 1793
- Medium: Stipple engraving
- Dimensions: Sheet (trimmed within plate): 17 7/8 × 13 5/8 in. (45.4 × 34.6 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1962
- Object Number: 62.602.702
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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