A Proud and Posturing Great-Grandfather


Furniture, Textiles & Fashion
June 25, 2015

Images of Louis XIV played an important role in celebrating, commemorating and promoting his power. Many survive on decorative objects, charting his life from cradle to grave.

Almanacs (a type of calendar) were often used to depict the heroic exploits of Louis and his family with illustrations and verses depicting wars, royal weddings and births and important political developments that had taken place the previous year.

E.417-1905 Print La Benediction du ciel sur la posterite de Louis Le Grand, almanach pour l'an de grace M.DCCV.; An almanac for the year 1705 printed from two printing plates joined together; the upper section shows Louis XIV being presented with his newborn great grandson, Le Duc de Bretagne who was born on the 25th June 1704. To the left of Louis XIV is Madame la Marechalle de la Motte who is holding the baby and the father, Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne. On his right are Monseigneur le Duc de Berry, Monsiegneur le Dauphin and Monseigneur le Duc d'Orleans, the future Prince Regent. In the background is the mother of the newborn child, Marie Adelaide of Savoy, lying in bed. The lower part of the print shows various public rejoicings at the birth of the Duc de Bretagne. A calendar on two separate sheets are stuck either side of the lower part of the print Antoine Trouvain (1656-1708) Paris 1705 Engraving and etching on laid paper. The calendar at the bottom is printed on two separate sheets and is letterpress in black and red
‘La Benediction du ciel sur la posterite de Louis Le Grand …’, engraving and etching on laid paper, with letterpress calendar, printed by Antoine Trouvain, Paris, 1705. V&A E.417-1905

This almanac was produced for the year 1705. The upper section shows Louis XIV presenting his new-born great grandson, the duc de Bretagne, who was born on 25th June (today!) the previous year. It will feature in the Louis XIV display in the Europe Galleries.

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Louis XIV’s new great grandson, the duc de Bretagne, who unfortunately died of convulsions in April 1705.

Prints Curator Frances Rankine has explained that almanacs like this were relatively inexpensive and ‘would have been sold as popular prints in print shops and hung on a wall in an interior for reference to important feast and saints days.’ Printed in Paris by Antoine Trouvain, it is likely that this would have adorned the homes of numerous Parisians.

The illustrations accompanying this almanac celebrate the birth the duc de Bretagne alongside military conquests of the duc de Roannais (Louis d’Aubusson de la Feuillade) and the duc de Vendôme (Louis Joseph de Bourbon).

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Depictions of the successful exploits of ‘Monsieur de Vendôme’ and ‘Monsieur de la Feuillade’

It is inscribed in French:

Heaven’s blessing on the descendants of Louis the Great at the birth of Monseigneur le Duc de Bretagne on the 25th June 1704 and the public rejoicings, with the conquests made in Piemont and Savoy by Monsieur de Vendôme and Monsieur de la Feuillade’

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Frances Rankine has further described the role of almanacs in promoting Louis XIV’s image and power:

‘From 1661 until his [Louis’] death in 1715, as many as five hundred and twenty different almanacs were published. About ten of these prints were produced each year.

It appears that deciding the subject matter of these almanacs was not the sole responsibility of the printmakers and publishers of the Rue St Jacques and there was a degree of collaboration with the Court. Jean Baptiste Colbert, the King’s minister, who implemented a systematic organization of the arts in France between 1661 and 1666, used the potential of printmaking to promote the image of the King, and would have demanded a degree of control in the subjects to be portrayed.

Apart from their practical use as calendars the aim of these almanacs was to portray the actions of an illustrious monarch and publicize the semi-divine character of the King. This engraving demonstrates the importance Louis XIV attached to family and to the Bourbon dynasty.’

In a manner comparable to recent magazine coverage of 2015’s own recent royal birth, the baby is depicted surrounded by key family and Court figures.

E.417-1905 Print La Benediction du ciel sur la posterite de Louis Le Grand, almanach pour l'an de grace M.DCCV.; An almanac for the year 1705 printed from two printing plates joined together; the upper section shows Louis XIV being presented with his newborn great grandson, Le Duc de Bretagne who was born on the 25th June 1704. To the left of Louis XIV is Madame la Marechalle de la Motte who is holding the baby and the father, Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne. On his right are Monseigneur le Duc de Berry, Monsiegneur le Dauphin and Monseigneur le Duc d'Orleans, the future Prince Regent. In the background is the mother of the newborn child, Marie Adelaide of Savoy, lying in bed. The lower part of the print shows various public rejoicings at the birth of the Duc de Bretagne. A calendar on two separate sheets are stuck either side of the lower part of the print Antoine Trouvain (1656-1708) Paris 1705 Engraving and etching on laid paper. The calendar at the bottom is printed on two separate sheets and is letterpress in black and red
Some proud posturing.

To the left of Louis XIV, the baby is held by Charlotte de la Motte Houdancourt, governess to the royal children. Between Charlotte and Louis stands the child’s father, the duc de Bourgogne. As you can see, a lot of effort has been taken to depict everyone’s clothing with meticulous detail, helping to really ‘show-off’ the rich, splendor of Louis and his court.

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The governess, a rather smiley and seemingly content baby and the proud father.

On Louis’ right are Monseigneur le Duc de Berry, Monsiegneur le Dauphin and Monseigneur le Duc d’Orleans, the future Prince Regent.

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Monseigneur le Duc de Berry, Monsiegneur le Dauphin and Monseigneur le Duc d’Orlean – easily identifiable with their names engraved.

The new-born’s mother, Marie Adelaide of Savoy, can be found in the background looking rather tired and perhaps a bit forlorn. She is lying in a state bed which creates the suggestion that she has only just given birth. Although named in the print’s title, I think it is interesting that, unlike those in the foreground, she is not directly identified by engraved text. Perhaps it was simply thought unnecessary (as she is the one lying in bed) but it does add to a sense of her being pushed into the background, as Louis’ male lineage is celebrated.

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The new mother.

The lower part of the print features vignettes showing various public rejoicings of the birth, such as fireworks and illuminations in Paris and Versailles.

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A vignette noting a celebratory firework display at Versailles in July 1704.

The calendar was printed separately on two sheets, in red and black letterpress, which were then pasted either side of a depiction of the Duc de Vendôme. Below, you can see how it gives the phases of the moon for each month along with listings of important Saints days and public holidays, some of which are highlighted in red.

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One half of the calendar pasted on to the lower sheet of the almanac design.

About the author


Furniture, Textiles & Fashion
June 25, 2015

I am an Assistant Curator working on the development of the new Europe 1600-1800 Galleries. My interests are wide-ranging but subjects I have particularly enjoyed exploring for this project include:...

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Comments

the opening of the Baroque galleries seems to have incurred additional delays–can you update me on this matter

Dear Martha,
In order to prepare for the opening of the Europe 1600-1800 galleries we’ve had to transform the Museum’s basement gallery spaces – a substantial and complex undertaking. We have stripped back the outdated 1970s interiors and have successfully completed work to increase available space by a third. The Museum has remained open throughout and disruption to visitors has been kept to an absolute minimum.
All major building projects are likely to involve new and unforeseen complexities that arise once on site. In this case, it became apparent by mid 2014 that in order to complete the project to the highest possible standard, we would need to allow more time. We amended our schedule in light of this and having continued to monitor progress carefully, have made the decision to move the opening to later in the year. A new opening date in late 2015 is shortly to be announced.
Best wishes,
Dawn

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