Art Blog - Art In History

Just as kings are inevitably symbols of the state which has elevated them to the pinacle of authority, so the image that kings choose for themselves is a teeling sign of how the nature of that authority is understood. Granted, one could argue that there is a "standard" iconography of kingship in European painting, and that the Rigaud painting on the left fits that standard. But by comparing it with the highly original portrayal of Charles I by Van Dyke, we can sense just how differently royalty was viewed in the two cultures. Rigaud has given us a view of the most magnificent symbol of the period of absolute monarchy, the Sun King, Louis XIV. The impact of the work comes from the magnificnece of the setting and the trappings… Continue reading… 0 comments