141 - A follower of Philippe de CHAMPAIGNE (1602–1674)

A follower of Philippe de CHAMPAIGNE (1602–1674) Portrait of Louis XIII in Armor, Wearing the Royal Regalia Oil on copper H_18 cm W_14 cm Restored Our painting depicts Louis XIII in an unprecedented manner. He is clad in armor and the royal fleur-de-lis cloak, lined with ermine. Crowned, he holds the scepter in his left hand; the sovereign is surrounded by the principal symbols of his power. At his feet rests a globe with a cross, a symbol of Christian sovereignty, while the armor recalls his role as commander-in-chief of the armies and defender of the kingdom. Placed on an entablature, a small clock adds a symbolic dimension. Traditionally associated with the passage of time and the brevity of life, it suggests that this portrait was created posthumously, after the death of Louis XIII in 1643. The association of this object with the insignia of royalty takes on a particular meaning, contrasting the fleeting nature of the reign with the permanence of the monarchy. This hypothesis allows us to place our painting in the context of Anne of Austria’s complicated regency, during which the memory of Louis XIII helped affirm the legitimacy of the young Louis XIV. The choice of a small format on copper, meanwhile, suggests a work of personal or private devotion.