Medaillon met portret van Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk 1674 - 1676

This engraving by Pieter van Schuppen portrays Louis XIV, King of France, and would have been made to circulate widely. The image is divided into two circular frames: Louis XIV in profile, alongside an allegorical figure of Felicitas Publica, representing public happiness. Such imagery was central to the absolutist ambitions of Louis, who saw himself as embodying the glory and prosperity of France. The iconography in the print is carefully chosen to communicate power, virtue, and wealth, with the king depicted in armour and the figure holding a cornucopia. The term LVTEITA on the bottom indicates the old latin name for Paris. As historians, we can look to printed sources, court records, and other visual representations to understand how Louis XIV used images to construct his persona and project his authority. This print reminds us that art is not just an aesthetic object but a tool used to shape beliefs, values, and social relations.