The Academy, Louis XIV, and Versailles
Rigaud. Louis XIV. 1701. Oil on canvas.
Louis XIV 1661-1715 Louis XIV make the France the largest and powerful country in the 17th century. He made good relationship with nobility to pacify them from rebellion, and also related himself to the representative of the god to assert the rationality of his power. He asserted himself as the sun king., which means he was the center of the universe. He helped to establish the Academy to promote the artists to focus on the classicism, which was based on order, authority and obedience. He also was a master of using art as a way of propaganda. He was trying to use this painting to convey the image of an absolute monarch. He wore the heels because he was relatively short, but it made him seem taller and look down from a higher position, which makes us feel the power of the monarch. He put his garment back to expose his leg because he liked his dancer's legs. The dark yellow symbols on the deep blue garment only belong to royal members, which emphasized his identity. The gold walking stick and sword also emphasize the power and grandiosity. We can also the crown in the desk.
*Le Brun. Modello for The Conquest of the Franche-Comté for the Second Time in 1674. Oil painting on the ceiling. Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles.
Royal flatter. This painting was composed by Charles Le Brun, who was the first artist of Louis XIV. This painting was trying to glorify the King of France, Louis XIV, who were dressed like a successful military general. However, he would never dressed like that. Nevertheless, this was one of his favorite painting. He was standing in a relatively high position looking down at those women who was dragged by Mars. They were the personification of the people in the conquered areas, who were pleading Louis XIV to save them. We could also see different kinds of gods were fighting in the back of Louis XIV. It asserted Louis XIV was the representative of the God and the rationality of his power and authority. He also wanted to emphasize his identity as the Sun King, Apollo. The stone that the Hercules were climbing symbolizes the fortress of the town.
*Le Brun. The Fountain of Apollo. 1670. Gilded bronze. Versailles, France.
This is designed by Le Brun, who was the first artist of the Louis XIV. Louis XIV asserted himself as the Sun King Apollo, the center of the universe. This fountain was in the axis of the back Garden of Versailles. The Apollo was seen sitting in the full-horses vehicle. The west to the east direction of the chariot showed this sculpture was devoted to the Sun King, which indicate the identity of the Louis XIV. It means Louis XIV was the representative of God. The power and authority of Louis XIV were rational and legal. It was all made of marble, which was really rare at that time. It emphasized the wealthy and power of the Louis XIV, as well as the French Empire.
Hardouin-Mansart and Le Brun. Hall of Mirrors. ca. 1680. Palace of Versailles.
ceiling was a painting composed by Le brun. In this painting, Louis XIV was surrounded by gods, which is to emphasize the goddess of Louis XIV. He was representative of the god. Versailles was transformed from a hunting lodge, served as the political center of Louis XIV. It was expanded over time during Louis XIV, XV. make everything shining/make a mirror factory before the time(come from Italy). to show the power of the country to make mirrors. the mirrors also made the room look bigger. The hall of mirrors was established in the center of Versailles. Every visitors who went to Versailles to visit the king of France, Louis XIV, will wait here. As a result, the king wanted to show the visitors how powerful and wealthy the France was at that time. this hall also showed the preferred classicism in the 17th century because it was very symmetrical. Every detail was paid attention to exhibit the artisanship. The mirror was also a favorite element of Baroque interior design. It also showed the dazzling extravagance of the Louis XIV.
