Charles X (1757–1836), King of France

This 1825 portrait of Charles X at Apsley House records the last Bourbon king of the main line, whose ultra-conservative reign (1824–1830) ended in the July Revolution. Gérard served Charles X as he had served all previous regimes, demonstrating the pragmatic survivalism that allowed him to remain France’s leading portraitist across four governments. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays polished Neoclassical finish inherited from David, with a more flattering and commercially appealing elegance that prioritized graceful presentation over moral severity.

The royal portrait follows Bourbon iconographic conventions with appropriate grandeur. Gérard’s technique maintains the high polish and refined execution that characterized his official portraiture regardless of the regime he served.