Lodewijk XIV beveelt het bouwen van 't Hôtel des Invalides, 1672 1672

This engraving, made in 1672 by an anonymous artist, depicts Louis XIV ordering the construction of the Hôtel des Invalides. Note the figure of Fame hovering above, her trumpet proclaiming Louis's glory. This motif stretches back to antiquity, to images of winged victories and divine messengers, embodying power and triumph. The angel-like figure of Fame resurfaces throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods, adorning palaces and public monuments. Consider how its appearance shifted—from classical goddesses to Christian angels, and later, secular symbols of national pride. Such images, charged with collective memory, trigger deep-seated emotions. The trumpet call stirs feelings of pride and loyalty, while the image of Louis as a benevolent king evokes a sense of order. This manipulation of symbols underscores how cultural memory shapes perception and reinforces power structures. The Hôtel des Invalides stands as a monument to Louis's reign and a symbol of his enduring legacy.