View of the Park at Versailles: Equestrian Statue Among Trees n.d.

Antoine Pierre Mongin made this graphite drawing, "View of the Park at Versailles: Equestrian Statue Among Trees," sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. At the time, Versailles was no longer the primary royal residence, yet this drawing suggests the park remained a site for contemplating power and history. Equestrian statues, like the one depicted here, were traditionally associated with rulers and military leaders, embodying authority and control. Mongin's choice to depict this subject within the meticulously designed landscape of Versailles speaks to the enduring legacy of the French monarchy, even as the social and political landscape of France was undergoing radical change. To fully understand this drawing, we might look into the history of Versailles, the changing role of the monarchy, and the artistic conventions of the time. In doing so, we can consider the ways in which Mongin's work reflects and comments on the social structures of his era.