Koning Hendrik IV van Frankrijk en Navarra trekt op naar Parijs 1706 - 1768

Curator: Here we see François Morellon La Cave's print, "King Henry IV of France and Navarre Marches on Paris," created between 1706 and 1768. Editor: The piece exudes drama, a swirling spectacle despite its monochrome palette. The strong diagonal lines really propel your eye upwards. Curator: Absolutely. The upward movement is key. It reflects the Baroque style's penchant for dynamic compositions and the glorification of power. Note how the engraving meticulously renders textures, differentiating the king’s armor from the billowing clouds. Editor: The figure floating above – presumably some allegorical representation of victory – dominates the upper register, literally crowning the composition. It does seem overtly propagandistic; what's the historical context of this particular depiction? Curator: King Henry IV, though a controversial figure during his reign due to his initial Protestant faith, is here positioned as a unifying force. The print commemorates his march on Paris and subsequent conversion to Catholicism, events that quelled religious wars and ushered in a period of relative stability. The image, though created decades after Henry IV's death, aimed to solidify the Bourbon dynasty’s claim to legitimacy. Editor: So, the print is a political tool as much as an artistic endeavor? The citizens kneeling below are really performing their role as admiring subjects, while Henry sits high upon his steed, literally looking down on the masses. Curator: Precisely. And considering the reproduction method, its function would be widespread dissemination and promotion of that carefully constructed image of royal power and divine right. Editor: Well, it definitely communicates the grandeur and spectacle expected of Baroque art. Even in a relatively small print like this, you get a palpable sense of ambition and might. Curator: I agree. It highlights how even a two-dimensional engraving can encapsulate multifaceted historical and political narratives while employing a visually persuasive structure.