Equestrian statue of Louis XIV, Sculpture in the Cour Puget, 1st arrondissement of Paris, France
The equestrian statue of Louis XIV shows the king bare-chested with a curly wig, drapery across his lap and legs, his left arm extended and his right hand holding the reins. The lead horse rears with bent front legs, a long mane and tail, and flame-like forms rise from the rough stone base beneath its hooves. Small birds perch on the king's head and on the horse.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's marble equestrian Louis XIV was commissioned in 1670 and finished in 1684, but the king disliked it and it was recut as Marcus Curtius. The present lead statue in the Cour Puget is a 1980s cast of that recut marble, made for the Louvre's courtyard.
The statue shows the monarch on horseback in a commanding military pose, reflecting French ideals of royal power. Visitors see how the artwork presents the king not as a peaceful ruler, but as a military leader.
The statue stands in the open courtyard and is visible from outside without needing to enter the museum. The location is easy to reach on foot, and the courtyard is accessible during regular museum hours.
The marble version was initially rejected by the king and was later transformed into a completely different work. The artist managed to salvage the original creation by giving it an entirely new purpose and appearance.
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