{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O696914"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O696914/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NL1659/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2023NL1659/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2023NL1659","copyright":"© Victoria & Albert Museum","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O696914","accessionNumber":"E.426-1965","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"Louis Le Grand","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This engraving of Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre, is by the printmaker Pierre Drevet  (1663-1738) after a painting of 1701 by the artist Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743), the  principal painter to the Court. The oil portrait was commissioned as a gift for Louis XIV's  grandson, Philip V of Spain but was such a success at court that it was never sent to him and  a copy was dispatched instead. As a result of its popularity several versions of the portrait  were produced. Drevet's print after the painting was first published in 1712 although this  engraving is a third state printed sometime after this. The steady demand for engraved  portraits of prominent men in public life during this period grew in importance under royal  patronage and this became the staple of the output of Pierre Drevet. He excelled at portrait  engravings, particularly those after his friend and fellow artist Hyacinthe Rigaud. Later in his  career Drevet was appointed Graveur du Roi (Engraver to the King) in 1696 and was  eventually given housing at the Palais du Louvre. This print, engraved by order of the King,  had the honour of being held in his collection. These portrait engravings were sold in print  shops but would not have been affordable to many. They would also have been given by the  King as gifts to visiting dignitaries and foreign rulers to proclaim his power and majesty.\r\n\r\n\r\n\tThe print captures the textures of the sumptuous ermine and velvet enveloping the figure of  the King in the original portrait and demonstrates the remarkable technical skills that were  developed among French eighteenth century engravers. The portrait projects an air of  grandeur, dignity and magnificence showing an individual not entirely of the real world. Every  detail of the work is aimed at producing the image of absolute power. It balances the  ideological necessities with some fashionable references in the full wig and the elegant pair  of stockinged legs. The king is shown full-length, wearing coronation robes and holding a  sceptre with a chain around his neck of the L'Ordre du Saint-Esprit. At his side is a sword. The  body of Louis, by now an old man at the age of sixty three, is almost entirely masked by  these formal robes which prominently display the royal fleur-de-lis. He stands on a carpeted  platform against a backdrop of swirling drapery and monumental architecture. Behind Louis  are a throne and a column symbolizing strength, its base decorated with an allegory of  Justice and War. To the left of him is a cushion on which rest a crown and 'main de justice' (a  staff surmounted by a hand). The portrait depicts a 'king of peace' founded on majesty,  strength and justice. \r\n","physicalDescription":"Portrait of Louis XIV full length wearing coronation robes and holding a sceptre with a sword  emerging from under his robes. Around his neck is a chain with the L'Ordre du Saint-Esprit.  He is standing on a carpeted platform in front of a throne. To the left are a crown and 'main  de justice' (a staff surmounted by a hand) resting on a cushion. On the base of the pillar  behind the king is an allegory of Justice and War.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Rigaud","id":"A7040"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Drevet","id":"A7039"},"association":{"text":"engraver","id":"AAT25165"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"},{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraving on laid paper","categories":[{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"},{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2023NL1659"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"SHLN","id":"THES49063"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"print","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1712","earliest":"1712-01-01","latest":"1712-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"E.224-1965","id":"O72048"},"association":"Duplicate"},{"object":{"text":"E.508-1960","id":"O567065"},"association":"Duplicate"}],"creditLine":"Given by Mrs E. Fuller in memory of the Reverend A. Fuller and A.W.F. Fuller through Art Fund","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"68.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"51.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Louis le Grand.\r\n\r\n","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Printed below the image in the centre"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Print, Louis Le Grand; engraving (third state) by Pierre Drevet (1663-1738) after Hyacinthe  Rigaud;1712","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"F-D 55. BN: Fonds 81."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Louis XIV","id":"N1637"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"bishops","id":"AAT25756"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.426-1965"],"accessionNumberNum":"426","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1965,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-23","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-30","availableToBook":false}}