Calender for 1659: Allegory on the Submission of Flanders to Louis XIV 1659

Jean Lepautre created this engraving, "Calender for 1659: Allegory on the Submission of Flanders to Louis XIV," as a symbolic representation of political dominance. The composition is structured around a central allegorical scene, framed by decorative elements that include wreaths and cartouches. Lepautre uses line and form to depict the figures and symbols of power. Note how the bodies are rendered with a classical influence and a dynamic quality, while the calendar grid at the base serves to ground the image in the practical reality of time. Above, cherubic figures float in a heavenly realm, suggesting divine endorsement of Louis XIV’s rule. The detailed engraving technique allows for a complex interplay of light and shadow, which animates the scene and adds depth to the symbolic narrative. The entire image presents a structured vision of order, hierarchy and the celebration of power.