Ground Plan for a Catafalque for Louis, Dauphin of France, d. 1711 1706 - 1716

Giuseppe Galli Bibiena created this ground plan for a catafalque, or temporary structure erected to honor the dead, for Louis, Dauphin of France, who died in 1711. Consider the weight of tradition and expectation that rested on those within the French royal family. Louis’s death at the age of 49 marked a pivotal moment. As the heir apparent, his passing triggered a cascade of succession issues that destabilized the French monarchy. Bibiena's design for the catafalque wasn't just architectural; it was a statement of power and continuity. The elaborate, geometric precision speaks to the Baroque obsession with order and the divine right of kings, yet it also hints at the fragility of such constructs. What emotions might such a display evoke? Grief, certainly, but also awe and perhaps even a sense of unease at the sheer spectacle of mourning designed to reinforce the status quo. Bibiena's plan invites us to reflect on the human cost of power and the complex choreography of grief within the theater of monarchy.