Portrait Of Louis XIV In Armor, Provincial Work With Walnut Frame, Late 17th-early 18th Century

This portrait depicts Louis XIV (1638–1715), wearing ceremonial armor adorned with gilding and edged with red velvet, accompanied by a finely painted lace cravat. The Sun King is depicted in a three-quarter bust, his abundant hair framing his characteristically featureless face. The dark background highlights the solemnity of the model and accentuates the monumentality of the figure. The work is part of the tradition of official portraits circulated under Louis XIV, inspired by the models of Hyacinthe Rigaud and widely adopted by provincial painters. These effigies served to spread the royal image throughout the kingdom, adorning private mansions, parliaments, and intendancies, in order to assert the authority and majesty of the sovereign even in the provinces far from Versailles. Particularly remarkable, the painting has retained its original oval frame in solid walnut, with a wide curved molding, assembled with pegged mortise and tenon joints. In the South of France (Provence, Languedoc, Dauphiné), this type of walnut frame is frequently found, a local species that is abundant and highly prized. In Paris, or in homes close to the court, taste tended towards carved and gilded frames, which were more refined and expensive. The choice of this sober but noble frame therefore corresponds perfectly to a provincial use: a commission intended for a private mansion, a parliament or a royal administration, where one wished to possess the effigy of the king without incurring the expense of a gilded mount. The frame still retains its period hanging system in wrought iron, a simple but rare detail. Restorations: The painting was previously restored: during this intervention, the canvas was relined and mounted on a new quality stretcher, guaranteeing good conservation of the work. Following our acquisition, we entrusted the painting to our restorer based in Burgundy: she carried out some re-gluing of the pictorial layer, a fine cleaning and light retouching, then applied a reversible matt varnish, highlighting the contrasts and the freshness of the colors. The walnut frame also benefited from restoration work: the counter-facing (back) received several wood grafts to fill gaps; the facing was cleaned, polished and waxed, giving a superb luster to the walnut and perfectly highlighting the molding. DimensionsAt sight: 76 x 54.5 cmAt frame: 92 x 70 cm