Hyacinthe Rigaud

In 1701, Hyacinthe Rigaud painted an oil portrait of King Louis XIV. This portrait would soon become one of the most famous portraits of the sun king. All elements of the portrait are meant to show the king’s power and wealth, like the coronation robes, the scepter, and the crown. However, aspects of the portrait ambiguously reflect on Louis XIV’ influence in the fashion industry during the late 17th century. A few examples of this are his wig, his sword and its sheath, and his shoes and stockings in the portrait. The facts presented in this essay will conclude the idea that Louis XIV had a definite impact on the fashion community and it is shown through his 1701 portrait painted by Hyacinthe Rigaud through his periwig, sword and sheath, and shoes and stockings. One of the main reasons this portrait was chosen instead of his others is because of its popularity. Not only…

King Louis XIV of France ruled for around seventy years as king and demonstrated his royalty well in the art that he chose to have made and constructed after his self-esteemed likeness. The painting of King Louis by Hyacinthe Rigaud demonstrates well how the king wished to be portrayed. King Louis is drenched over in a very large and flowing cloak with a rich blue and mixture, which was a very luxurious color back due to the origin of how the color had to be obtained from the grinding up of sea…

all time made their mark on Europe: King Louis XIV of France and Frederick the Great of Prussia. These two rulers were at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of government and image. On one hand was Louis XIV, with his absolutist government, emblazoned with gold, jewels, and lavish clothing. On the other hand was Frederick the Great, the stalwart and humble leader of Prussia, identifiable not by his outward appearance, but by his character and personality. These two set about ruling their…