FROM THE HOURS OF LOUIS THE GREAT, MADE IN THE... Lot 16

FROM THE HOURS OF LOUIS THE GREAT, MADE IN THE ROYAL HOSTEL OF VERSAILLES " King Louis XIV at prayer in the Royal Chapel of Versailles " Beautiful gouache enhanced with gold, on paper. 21x15cm. Under glass. Gilded rocaille frame. B.E. 18th -19th century. History: "Among the sumptuous illuminated manuscripts provided to Louis XIV by the workshop of illumination of the Invalides, the vesperal completed in 1693 contains a superb miniature depicting Louis XIV in prayer, kneeling before the high altar of his chapel. With its precise and very detailed drawing, this exceptional document offers a colourful description of the sanctuary and part of the nave. Raised one step above the ground, with a plain pavement made of irregular slabs, the altar is dressed with a cloth antependium and supports a two-tiered gilded tabernacle surmounted by a dome and a crucifix, the whole framed by four candlesticks. Within a gilded border, the altarpiece depicts a Nativity in accordance with the engraving after the drawing by Leclerc. St. Joseph is in the lower right-hand corner of the composition. The altarpiece corresponds to the data provided by earlier testimonies, but the adoring angels and the capitals are gilded here. The background of the composition shows the west wall of the chapel: the arcade on the ground floor overlooking the northern parterre, separated by a pilaster from a full arcade preceded by the stalls, a decoration of garlands, palmettes and gilded angels' heads, and on the first floor, a balustrade without an openwork design, the angels enshrouded directly on the pillars, and an architrave decorated with a laurel torus above the courier. The splendour and brilliance of this very colourful ensemble is close to the spirit of the Grand Appartement, which had just been completed at the time of the inauguration of the chapel in 1682. The arched shape of the arcades and the small size of the windows bring this drawing closer to the first project of 1681 for the chapel and to the engraving after the drawing by Leclerc." Bibliography: Alexandre MARAL, "L'étonnante destinée d'un édifice provisoire: la chapelle royale de Versailles entre 1682 et 1710" in Bulletin du Centre de recherche du château de Versailles.