Three Partisans Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643) by Jean Berain

Three Partisans Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643) 1658 - 1715

0:00

historical design

3d sculpting

3d model

weapon

3d printed part

virtual 3d design

structure design

3d character model

unrealistic statue

3d shape

france

3d modeling

armor

arm

Dimensions: 04.3.64: Head, 20 3/4 x 5 7/8 in. (52.7 x 15 cm); Overall, 94 3/8 in. (239.7 cm); 04.3.65: Head, 22 9/16 x 6 1/2 in. (57.3 x 16.5 cm); Overall, 94 1/8 in. (239 cm); Head, 20 9/16 x 6 1/16 in. (52.2 x 15.4 cm); Overall, 86 11/16 in. (220.2 cm)

These three partisans were designed by Jean Berain, the Elder, sometime during the reign of Louis XIV. They were made from wood and steel, and ornamented with gilt. The partisans would have been carried by the King's bodyguard, the Garde du Corps, during royal processions. The extravagance of the gilt ornamentation signals power, wealth, and status, all embodied by the King. As objects of functional use, they also embody the practicalities of wielding power. In seventeenth-century France, the Court functioned as a highly visible theater of power, with the King at its centre. Berain designed many lavish sets, costumes, and interior decorations for Louis XIV, all of which were intended to convey the glory of the King. The Garde du Corps were an important part of this theater of power. To further our understanding of these objects, we might investigate court records from the period. Documents, inventories, and visual records help us to interpret the role of art and material culture within the court of Louis XIV.