Plafondschildering in de Spiegelzaal van Kasteel Versailles 1752

Louis Desplaces created this print of the ceiling painting in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. The Hall of Mirrors was built to impress visitors with the wealth and power of King Louis XIV. The print encapsulates the opulence of the Palace, but also the power structures that underpinned its construction. Note how the strong male figures on either side of the central image seem to literally hold up and support the scene. This is a reflection of the labor of countless individuals, many of whom were from marginalized communities, that were required to build and maintain such a lavish structure. The central image depicts classical figures from antiquity; these figures and the cherubs at the top of the print, reinforce the King's self-image as a divinely appointed and powerful ruler. Consider the emotional impact of a space designed to overwhelm and impress, and how it serves as both a celebration of artistic achievement, but also a testament to a specific historical moment in which power and privilege were concentrated in the hands of a few.