Beeld van Apollo in het Bassin d'Apollon in de tuin van Versailles 1870 - 1900

This photograph captures the Beeld van Apollo in het Bassin d'Apollon in the garden of Versailles, created by an anonymous artist. It shows the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, originally built by Louis XIII, but expanded by Louis XIV, who moved the French court here in 1682. The palace was designed to demonstrate the power of the French monarchy, using visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The scale of the gardens, the opulence of the palace, and the use of classical imagery all contributed to this message. The choice of Apollo, the Greek god of music, poetry, and light, was not accidental. Louis XIV styled himself as the Sun King. As art historians, we can look at the history of Versailles and the Bourbon monarchy to understand the values and beliefs that this image represents. We might explore archives of royal correspondence and examine the political writings of the era. Only then can we appreciate how this image was created to project and maintain power.