Louis XIV of France at the Louvre, Paris

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In 1685, a bold initiative was undertaken by Louis XIV's war minister, the marquis de Louvois, who adopted an innovative concept from speculators to create a new urban space in Paris. Jules Hardouin-Mansart brought this vision to life, designing a magnificent square that would serve as the backdrop for a striking equestrian statue of Louis XIV by François Girardon. This towering bronze sculpture stood seven meters high and was set amidst a grand pedestal, commanding attention from all who passed through the square. The context surrounding the commission reveals a story of artistic competition and royal ambition. The Duc de La Feuillade had previously proposed erecting a monumental statue of Louis XIV in the Place des Victoires, which celebrated the king's victories in the Dutch war that ended with the Treaty of Nijmegen in 1679. To outdo this rival square in grandeur, the Marquis de Louvois convinced Louis XIV to create a new "Place des Conquêtes" on the site of the Hôtel de Vendôme. Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the architect behind the Place des Victoires and designer of the Château and Orangerie at Versailles, took charge of this ambitious project. Girardon worked tirelessly from 1685 to 1687, crafting a model that would showcase Louis XIV as a Roman emperor. The king sits proudly on horseback, wearing a lavish contemporary curly wig and the cloak of a Roman commander. Girardon drew inspiration from the ancient statue of Marcus Aurelius at the Capitol in Rome but made his version significantly larger than its predecessor. Louis XIV personifies sovereign authority with a straight back, gaze directed far ahead, and an imperial gesture that commands respect. However, transposing this massive bronze sculpture into reality proved to be a daunting task. France lacked the technical expertise to cast large equestrian statues like those found in Italy since the Renaissance. The statue of Henri IV on the Pont-Neuf was made in Florence, while the representation of Louis XIII on the Place Royale was an assemblage of separate components that did not quite fit together. Balthazar Keller, a Swiss caster living in France, finally succeeded in casting the statue using the lost-wax method in December 1692. This technical feat required feeding metal into every recess of the intricate mold, resulting in a single cast that swallowed up eighty thousand pounds of bronze. The finished statue was an unqualified success and universally admired. The statue was not installed on its pedestal until 1699, at which point it stood proudly in the square that would eventually bear Louis XIV's name. As a symbol of absolutism, the equestrian statue was seen as a representation of the king's power and authority. However, during the Revolution in August 1792, it was pulled down and destroyed. Several reduced versions of the original work were created, some of which were made on Girardon's initiative. The Louvre statue, standing over a meter high and perfectly chiseled, is the only signed copy that remains today. This remarkable bronze sculpture is part of "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory that aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for public access. If you have interesting items to contribute, please email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can participate in this community-driven effort.