Exhibitions
The Prado Museum collaborates on the exhibition 'Le Grand Dauphin' at Versailles
The Museo Nacional del Prado will participate in the major exhibition Le Grand Dauphin , organized by the Palace of Versailles from October 14, 2025, to February 15, 2026. For the occasion, the Madrid art gallery will contribute an exceptional collection of pieces from the Dauphin's Treasure, as well as several portraits that provide an insight into the image and memory of the Bourbon family. The monographic exhibition aims to rediscover the figure of Louis of France, son of Louis XIV and father of Philip V, through his role as a collector and patron.
The Museo del Prado will contribute to the exhibition by loaning four portraits: Louis of France, the Grand Dauphin by Jean Nocret—restored especially for the occasion and depicting him at his baptism ceremony—accompanied by Maria Theresa of France by the same artist; and Queen Maria Theresa of Austria and the Grand Dauphin of France and Louis of France, the Grand Dauphin, Father of Philip V , both by Charles and Henri Beaubrun. These works constitute a fundamental chapter in the dynastic memory of the Bourbons and, given that they have few parallels in France, give the loan exceptional value.
Oriental jade vase with a gilt-silver foot. Ching Dynasty Workshop; Debourg, Michel. Gilt-silver and nephrite jade, 17th century (vase); 1684–1687 (set). Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado.
The title of "dauphin" was granted to the heir to the French crown from the 14th century, when the Dauphiné of Vienne, whose lord bore that name, became part of the royal domains. Hence, the king's firstborn son became known as the Dauphin of France. The appellation "Grand Dauphin" is particularly applied to Louis of France (1661-1711), son of Louis XIV, the Sun King, who held the rank of heir throughout his life, although he never reigned as he predeceased his father. To differentiate him from his own son, Louis of Burgundy, also an heir, he was known by this nickname, while the Sun King's grandson was called the "Little Dauphin."
In addition, the Prado will enrich the exhibition with a select group of jewels from the Dauphin's Treasure, including the delicate Oriental Jade Vase with a Silver-gilt Foot (17th century), the elegant Oval Heliotrope Tray with Octagonal Grid, and the exquisite Heliotrope Spouted Jar, a work from the famous Miseroni workshop. Also on display will be several of the original cases preserved only at this institution, silent witnesses to a unique legacy and true rarities on the world stage. These pieces, carved from rock crystal, jade, and lapis lazuli, and adorned with precious metals, evoke the Dauphin's refinement and his passion for luxury collecting, which transformed each object into a symbol of power, beauty, and eternity.
