Latonavijver in de tuinen van Versailles before 1840

Ernest Jaime created this print of the Latona Fountain at Versailles in the 19th century. Versailles was originally a hunting lodge, transformed by Louis XIV into a symbol of absolute power. But the gardens also have a social history. Conceived in the 17th century as a place of spectacle and pleasure for the aristocracy, by the 19th century, public access to Versailles became more common. In Jaime’s print, the fountain, designed to showcase the power of the monarchy, is viewed through the eyes of a changing social order. How does democratizing access to the grounds affect Versailles's symbolic value? This transformation from a private, exclusive space to one accessible to a wider public mirrors broader shifts in French society following the revolution. The print serves as a poignant reminder of the shifting sands of power and the complex interplay between art, politics, and society.