circa 1668, Le BRUN Charles
oil on canvas, H 329 x L 187
Musée de la Chartreuse, INV 237


Louis XIV (1637-1715), the Roi Soleil (Sun King), rose to the throne in 1642 at the age of five years and ruled for the next 72 years (1643-1715). In 1670 he moved his court out to the newly-built Versailles which would become for over a century the capital of France. The palace became a showcase for regal opulence and noble priveledge as the king surrounded himself with exquisite luxuries. Favoring the classical style which flourished in Italy, Louis created in 1666 the French Academy in Rome. This institution would lodge young French artists, admitted on a scholarship basis, who created copies of classical Roman antiquities to adorn the new court at Versailles. Each year the works produced at the French Academy in Rome were carefully packed and then transported by boat to France.