Louis XIV 1663

Editor: This is Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Louis XIV. The king seems very self-assured, even a bit intimidating. What aspects of Louis XIV’s rule do you think Nanteuil was trying to highlight here? Curator: Consider how this portrait reinforces the cultural construction of absolute monarchy. Nanteuil's work uses symbolism and idealization to legitimize power structures. The armor and laurel wreath? Classic tropes. But how do these visual cues shape our understanding of power, gender, and even resistance in that era? Editor: So, it's not just a portrait; it's a statement about power and legitimacy? Curator: Exactly. And thinking about the broader social context, how does this image contribute to the narrative of French identity? Editor: That's a lot to consider! Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Let's think about whose stories get told through art, and whose are omitted.