Louis XIV Le Bernin molding

Louis XIV took advantage of the renowned sculptor's stay
to commission a bust from him. Completed in less than 4
months, Bernini portrayed the sovereign in armor, his gaze conquering, focused
the image of a heroic king looking to the future.
the future. Despite the difficulties of working with marble...

Louis XIV took advantage of the renowned sculptor's stay
to commission a bust from him. Completed in less than 4
months, Bernini portrayed the sovereign in armor, his gaze conquering, focused
the image of a heroic king looking to the future.
the future. Despite the difficulties of working with marble,
made difficult by its fragility, the bust abounds in impressive detail,
in the curls of the king's hair, in the drapery - whose twirling
which reinforce the impression of heroism that emanates from the king - or in the lace
in the lace of the ruffle, made without a model. All these details contribute to
elevate the figure of the king - his beauty, his heroism, his wealth in particular.
his wealth. Bernini also maintained a few realistic details
against the king's wishes: a wart at the root of the nose, the hair on the chin,
details that create an interesting contrast with the idealized parts of the
the sculpted eyes, which are larger than the king's.