Portret van Lodewijk XIV 1636 - 1696

Curator: Welcome. We are looking at a portrait of Louis XIV. It's an engraving, dating sometime between 1636 and 1696, by Nicolas de Poilly, and currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's strikingly austere. The monochromatic palette amplifies the intricate linework, but the king's almost placid expression doesn't quite fit with the weight of the armor and that rather… excessive wig. Curator: Well, Louis cultivated an image of controlled power, even in his youth. The armour is representative of the king's military prowess. Think about France’s many wars during his reign. Also, that hair – far from just a fashion statement, the wig denoted status. Editor: Status indeed! Notice the fine details. Look at the composition: the oval frame ornamented with flora, the fleur-de-lis emblem, the tiny vignettes within the frame. All serve to underscore Louis's grandeur. Curator: Exactly. And each little scene, those little circular emblems. The references all tie in, not just to royalty but to the idea of wise leadership and good governance; themes incredibly common in depictions of Louis. The engraver, Poilly, was really channeling the propaganda of the era. Editor: Propaganda understood though the formal construction, really. See how the gaze is slightly averted yet piercing, suggesting introspection, power, and divine right? Even though it is printmaking it looks so polished. The engraver skillfully modulates light and shadow, lending depth to the King’s persona. Curator: And consider that engraving allowed for mass production, meaning images like this portrait disseminated the King's image far and wide, creating and solidifying that royal persona for the masses. It also became the quintessential model for his regal presentation that sculptors or other engravers imitated and expanded on. Editor: It's a study in controlled artifice, wouldn’t you say? The King's image becomes a carefully manufactured product designed to communicate power, not only during his lifetime, but in perpetuity. Even now, it is a masterclass in Baroque printmaking! Curator: Indeed. When looking at this image, the political functions and its enduring legacy on state representation, still visible in modern leaders' portrayals, truly speak to me. Editor: Absolutely! For me, the pure aesthetic—how visual components assemble and play with the eye, makes this Louis XIV portrait a powerful testament of its time.