Zicht op het koninklijke kasteel Versailles 1631 - 1661

Israel Silvestre made this print of the royal Chateau of Versailles in Paris, sometime in the mid-17th century. Silvestre was one of many artists who benefited from the patronage system of the French Royal court. This print shows the Chateau before the extensive renovations commissioned by Louis XIV that would transform it from a modest hunting lodge into a symbol of absolute power. The print seems straightforward, but it participates in a complex game of image making. It helped to fashion the King’s image. Silvestre used visual codes to communicate the importance of the Chateau as the location where ‘the King goes to enjoy hunting.’ The building itself is depicted in a highly idealized and geometricised manner. The artist emphasizes the manicured gardens and formal landscaping surrounding the Chateau. This served to associate the King with the virtues of order, reason, and control that were valued at the time. To understand the historical and cultural context, historians might consult archival records from the court, letters, and diaries. These sources can reveal more about the relationship between art, power, and social life during the reign of Louis XIV.