The nun in the upper left hand corner is Louis XV's youngest daughter Madame Louise who devoted her adult life to praying for the salvation of her father's soul. From
Reading Treasure:
Louis XV had once been called the "Most Beloved," but by the time of his
death in 1774, he had squandered the good will of the people with years
of unpopular decisions, increasing isolation from anyone outside his
court circle, and visible, expensive mistresses who made convenient
scapegoats for the king's decisions. His death ushered in a wave of
hopes, pressure and expectations from the French people for their new
king, the young Louis-Auguste, now Louis XVI, and his young queen.
Perhaps nothing illustrations the immediacy of these expectations than this engraving published in 1774 as 'An Allegory of the Death of Louis XV.'
Rather than resembling the standard allegory of the death of
royalty--which usually depict them being welcomed into heaven by angels,
cherubs and other heavenly creatures--Louis XV is shown in barefoot, in
simple clothing with a traveler's walking stick; he is being shown
portraits of his living family, the hope for France. It is his remaining
family, and not Louis XV himself, who are being draped with flower
garlands and celebrated.
To illustrate the point even further, this engraving was accompanied by
the following poem, which refers to Louis XV as 'the subject of regret.'
What an important spectacle this tableau presents you!
An august family still flourishing
Contemplate here these portraits
See--there, gathered under the eyes of France
Along with the subject of regret
Those of its deepest expectation
Marie Antoinette remarked on these
expectations in a letter to her mother several months after the death of
her 'grandpapa king': "... I worry a little about this French
enthusiasm when it comes to the future. ... opinion is divided, and it
will be impossible to please everyone in a country where people are so
impatient that they want everything done immediately." (Read more.)
What insight and wisdom from a young queen barely 20 years old, and what a contrast with the naivete, immaturity, and grossly inflated expectations of the typical modern American of any age.
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