160 - 18th-century French school, likely for the king’s buildings

18th-century French school, likely for the king’s buildings Circle of Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659–1743) Portrait of Louis XIV in full royal regalia Oil on canvas H_126.5 cm W_93 cm Restorations Our portrait largely follows the iconic style pioneered by Hyacinthe Rigaud in 1701. Originally intended for his grandson, King Philip V of Spain, this painting would become one of the most famous royal portraits in the history of painting, establishing the conventions of monarchical representation for centuries to come. Executed with some artistic freedom from the original model, our half-length portrait differs notably through the inclusion of an entablature on the left side of the composition, a significant modification of the regalia, and a different treatment of the background. Given the considerable success of this royal image, requests for replicas and copies multiplied, exceeding the capacity of Rigaud’s studio alone. The Bâtiments du Roi, responsible in particular for the decoration and furnishing of royal residences, thus commissioned numerous replicas of the portrait. The painter François-Albert Stiémart (1680–1740) and his student Pierre-Charles Prévost produced many of these, likely with the assistance of other collaborators. The artistic liberties taken in our composition—both in the arrangement of elements and in the depiction of attributes—lend our painting a particular interest compared to the classical replicas of Rigaud’s original.