642 - B. JULIEN (*1802) after MAURIN (*1793), King Louis Philippe and his family, around 1830, Lithography

B. JULIEN (*1802) after MAURIN (*1793), King Louis Philippe and his family, around 1830, Lithography Bernard Romain Julien (1802 Bayonne - 1871 ibid.) after Antoine Maurin (1793 Perpignan - 1860 Paris): The Royal Family of France, Louis Philippe, c. 1830, Lithography Technique: Lithography on Paper Inscription: At the lower part signed in the printing plate: "Lith. par Julien d'après N. Maurin / Lith. de Lemercier, rue du Four S. G. No. 55.". Inscribed in the printing plate: "A Paris, chez Bulla, rue S'. Jacques No. 38. / Famille Royale.". Date: c. 1830 Description: The French lithographer Nicolas-Eustache Maurin created a large number of portraits of famous contemporaries in addition to book illustrations and some erotic depictions. Surrounded by his closest family, the "Citizen King" Louis-Philippe I from the House of Bourbon is portrayed here. He is grouped with his wife Maria Amalia of Naples-Sicily and the nine sons and daughters of the royal couple above two crossed flags and in front of insignia at the sides. After the profound political and social upheavals of the French Revolution and the July Revolution in 1830, it was of great importance for the monarch to be portrayed as being close to the bourgeoisie. The emphasis on the family in this lithograph, as well as the reference to Louis-Philippe's military achievements for France, place him closer to the people, despite the grouping resembling a divine Olympus. However, the ambiguity of this depiction is also reminiscent of Louis-Philippe's initially liberal government, which later showed increasing ambitions to strengthen the ancien régime again. Keywords: Louis-Philippe I, Citizen King, Bourbon, Naples-Sicily, France, Nobility, Princes, King, Family, Ancien Régime, 19th century, Biedermeier, Portraits, France, Size: Paper: 34,2 cm x 45,2 cm (13,5 x 17,8 in), Depiction: 28,0 cm x 41,5 cm (11 x 16,3 in) Condition: Good condition. Very slightly dust-stained in margin. Upper right corner with slight crease.