THE REAL LOUIS XVI—The Last Portrait—by Joseph Ducreux c. 1790 Joseph, Baron Ducreux was a French noble, portrait painter, pastelist, miniaturist, and engraver, who was a successful portraitist at the court of Louis XVI of France, and resumed his career at the conclusion of the French Revolution… He was made a baron and premier peintre de la reine (First Painter to the Queen), and drew the last portrait ever made of Louis XVI before the king's execution… Both of these portraits are said to have been drawn by Ducreux… However, only one of these portraits was actually drawn by Ducreux circa 1790… I’ll give you a few hints as to the one that is… It’s the one with beautifully smooth color transitions, incredible realism, and intricate detail… “Lewis XV was the handsomest youth in France, he had a swarthy complexion” SOURCE; (J. Dodsley, "The Annual Register, Or, A View of the History, Politics, and Literature for the Year 1774"; 1775) The word Swarthy or Swart derives from ‘Schwarz’ or ‘Schwartz’ which means “to be black; black man, and negro SOURCE; (Flügel-Schmidt-Tanger, a Dictionary of the English and German Languages for Home and School; 1905) Complexion = the natural color, texture, and appearance of a person's SKIN (not hair) especially of the face. “Louis XIV [had] arched eyebrows, aquiline nose, and [a] BROWN complexion” SOURCE; (James Peller Malcom, "Londinium Redivivum Or an Ancient History and Modern Description of London, Compiled from Parochial Records, Archives of Various Foundations, the Harleian Mss. and Other Authentic Sources"; 1802) We are also told that the skin on his WELL PRESERVED corpse was as black as ink... “Louis XIV was also in good preservation, but his skin was as BLACK as ink” SOURCE; (Sir Richard Phillips, "The Monthly Magazine" Vol.13; 1802) To be clear, there is no question that Mummified skin can darken after being exposed to air.... But at the same time, as relates to the level of darkness: where you end up, is dependent on where you began.... “Louis XIV's swarthy complexion and prominent nose were typically Bourbon" SOURCE;
(Richard Wilkinson, "Louis XIV") “He [Louis XIV] also had a daughter who was not acknowledged...There was a nun in the Abbaye de Moret who was supposed to be his daughter. She was EXTREMELY SWARTHY, and otherwise resembled him” SOURCE; (Voltaire, “The Age of Louis XIV.: To which is Added, an Abstract of The Age of Louis XV”; 1780) “Some people suspected, and not without reason, that a certain lady in the abbey of Moret was Louis's daughter. She was VERY BROWN, and resembled him in every other respect” SOURCE; (Thomas Pike Lathy, “Memoirs of the Court of Louis XIV. Comprising Biography and Anecdotes of the Most Celebrated Characters of that Period, Styled the Augustan Era of France. In Three Volumes.; 1819)louis 15th