Louis XIV of France - Image and Depiction

Image and Depiction

Few rulers in world history have commemorated themselves in as grand a manner as Louis. Louis used the arts and court ritual to demonstrate, augment and maintain his control over France. With his support, Colbert established from the beginning of Louis's personal reign a centralised and institutionalised system for creating and perpetuating the royal image. The King was thus portrayed largely in majesty or at war, notably against Spain. This portrayal of the monarch was to be found in numerous media of artistic expression, such as painting, sculpture, theatre, dance, music, and the almanacs which diffused royal propaganda to the population at large.

Read more about this topic:  Louis XIV Of France

Famous quotes containing the word image:

    For through the painter must you see his skill,
    To find where your true image pictured lies,
    Which in my bosom’s shop is hanging still,
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)