Decorative Art

Louis XIV Crowned by Victory, about 1680
Wool, silk, metal thread
Design adapted from drawings by Adam Frans van der Meulen (Flemish, 1632-1690) Woven under the direction of Philippe Béhagle (Flemish, 1641-1705), Tournai (then under French control; now part of Belgium)
Gift of Susan Barr Satterwhite 1947.28
Conservation funded by Robert E. Kulp, Jr. and Margaret Barr Kulp, in memory of her parents, John McFerran Barr and Anita Carrington Barr, with additional support from a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal Agency.

Known by his self-proclaimed title, "Sun King," Louis XIV (1638-1715; reigned, 1643-1715) projected the image of a powerful, god-like being. Considering France’s history of scheming nobles, Louis’s ongoing European wars and his desire for absolute power, the king’s imposing image helped to strengthen and sustain his authority. Louis’s palaces and the objects they contained were a crucial part of his larger-than-life persona. For example, the massive, sumptuously decorated palace of Versailles–largely built during Louis’s reign–created an atmosphere of intimidating grandeur in which the king took center stage. Along with luxurious furnishings, Louis’s regal status was further emphasized by murals, sculptures, paintings, and tapestries bearing his likeness (often in the guise of a conquering hero).

In this tapestry, Louis XIV, his battles complete, receives a laurel wreath from Victory. Dressed in classical Roman armor and sitting in a chariot, the king is presented as an ancient warrior. With an eye towards elevating the king's image, he was often compared with the legendary military leader, Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.). In ancient art, Alexander was sometimes shown with a lion's skin – a symbol of courage and fortitude associated with the god, Hercules. A lion's skin is also seen draped over the wheel of the king's chariot. Here, it symbolizes Louis's defeated enemies as well as his bravery. With its god-like portrayal of Louis, this tapestry is an apt conclusion to the series, The Glorification of Louis XIV.