Kroning van Lodewijk XIV in de kathedraal van Reims 1654

This engraving depicts the coronation of Louis XIV in Reims Cathedral on June 7, 1654. Although the artist is anonymous, the image’s meticulous detail offers insight into the social and cultural significance of this event in 17th-century France. The visual codes of royalty are prominent: the fleur-de-lis patterns, the elevated altar, and the assembly of the court. The cathedral itself, adorned with tapestries, becomes a stage for the performance of power. This image was produced during a period of consolidating royal authority. Louis XIV would famously move the court to Versailles, further centralizing power. Understanding this artwork requires looking into archival sources. The social conditions, the institutional histories, and the very politics of imagery are crucial to understanding its meaning.