Plafondschilderingen in de Grande Galerie van Versailles met Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk, die opdracht geeft Nederland aan te vallen 1752

Laurent Cars created this print of the ceiling paintings in the Grande Galerie of Versailles, depicting Louis XIV ordering the invasion of the Netherlands. The composition is divided into distinct registers that blend historical narrative with allegorical glorification. Below, Louis XIV is shown surrounded by military advisors, directing attention toward a map, symbolizing his strategic command. Above, the heavens open to reveal mythological figures and symbolic elements. Divine approval is visually conferred through these figures, enhancing the king’s perceived authority. The structured layout and allegorical language in the print echo Baroque principles, where art served as a tool for propaganda and statecraft. By integrating mythology with contemporary events, Cars elevates Louis XIV’s political ambitions to a cosmic scale, reinforcing the period’s ideologies.