View inside the back of the cave of Thétys by Jean Lepautre Engraving

Jean Lepautre was appointed ordinary engraver to King Louis XIV in 1667, and was admitted to the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1677. Estimated at 1,500 plates, his body of work is varied and covers a wide range of themes. He engraved ornaments, landscapes, mythological and historical...

Jean Lepautre was appointed ordinary engraver to King Louis XIV in 1667, and was admitted to the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1677. Estimated at 1,500 plates, his body of work is varied and covers a wide range of themes. He engraved ornaments, landscapes, mythological and historical scenes. His recognition by Colbert led to the engraving of plates of rare quality for the King's Cabinet. These include the Grotte de Versailles, the Fête donné à Versailles le 18 juillet 1668, the Divertissements donnés par le Roy en 1674, au retour de la conquête de la Franche-Comté, as well as the engravings of various basins, statues and vases in the park of Versailles that are preserved in the Chalcographie du Louvre.
The sumptuous festivities held at the Château de Versailles were intended to entertain the king's court and express the sovereign's power. Theater, carrousels, fireworks displays, head and ring races..., all provided the occasion for courtiers to show off to the monarch. The celebration of July 18, 1668 was recounted by André Félibien in Divertissements donnés par le Roy in 1674, in which prints testify to the luxury of evenings at the court of Louis XIV. Precious objects, works illustrated with prints were propaganda tools designed to establish the king's supremacy in Europe.