Karel de Grote, Lodewijk IX en Lodewijk XIV 1768 - 1771

Editor: This engraving from the late 1700s by Jean Charles Delafosse, titled *Karel de Grote, Lodewijk IX en Lodewijk XIV*, is intriguing! It looks like an elaborate monument rendered entirely in incredibly precise lines. What kind of statement do you think Delafosse is making with this symbolic display? Curator: This print, with its Baroque leanings, operates on several levels. Beyond the aesthetic, we need to unpack the symbolism in its historical context. It is less about objective history and more about constructing a particular narrative of French monarchy. Editor: A constructed narrative... How so? Curator: Consider the chosen figures: Charlemagne, Louis IX, and Louis XIV. These rulers represent different eras and aspects of French power. By bringing them together visually, Delafosse is creating a lineage, a direct and arguably artificial connection to legitimize the then-current monarchy. What about the objects? Editor: Okay, I see armor and weapons that speak to military might, but also what appears to be musical instruments, an orb, and open books… I'd guess these represent wisdom and divine right? Curator: Exactly. But let's dig deeper. These symbols also hint at the complex relationship between power, knowledge, and faith. It almost seems to create a carefully constructed propaganda, don't you think? A Baroque ‘endorsement deal’ if you will, linking current power structures to a specific past. Editor: So, it’s less a portrait of history and more an argument *about* history…a statement. I had never considered that angle. Curator: Precisely! By understanding art as a product of its time and its socio-political context, we start to unveil hidden dialogues and power dynamics that works like this one try to convey, deliberately or not. Editor: Thanks. Looking at this piece through that lens, I see it's doing a lot more than just looking pretty!