Early 19th century French school (After Etienne Le Hongre) Louis XIV as a Roman Emperor on horseback Height : 35 cm Resting on a Boulle-style base Total height: 57 cm (Damage to the base) In May 1686, the States of Burgundy commissioned a representation of Louis XIV from Etienne Le Hongre, "Sculpteur ordinaire des bâtiments du roi", an artist at the peak of his powers who had been working with the best craftsmen since 1668 on the decoration of the Château de Versailles. Their aim was to create a monumental bronze square in honour of the sovereign, based on the equestrian sculpture prototype that was widespread during his reign. The model was completed in 1690, the year of the sculptor's death. Casting began immediately and, in 1692, the statue of the king and his mount were transported to Auxerre. But after a few kilometres, the poor roads in Burgundy in the second half of the 17th century and the weight of the bronzes made further transport unthinkable. It wasn't until 1718 that the whole thing was finally transported to Dijon, where the statue was unveiled in 1725. The monument wasn't finally completed until 1747, when the gate and commemorative plaques were affixed. Tragically, the work was destroyed in 1792, a victim of revolutionary vandalism. The Sun King is depicted as a Roman Emperor, holding the baton of command in his right hand, in keeping with the ideas developed by Colbert to promote the royal image. Our bronze is an attractive reduction of the lost bronze, to the scale of the model made by Le Hongre, which the King enjoyed every day, having it enthroned in the centre of the oval salon of his private flats among the most prestigious crown bronzes. Early 19th century French school (after Etienne Le Hongre) In May 1686, the States of Burgundy commissioned a representation of Louis XIV from Etienne Le Hongre, "Sculpteur ordinaire des bâtiments du roi", an artist at the peak of his powers who had been working with the best craftsmen since 1668 on the decoration of the Château de Versailles. Their aim was to create a monumental bronze square in honour of the sovereign, based on the equestrian sculpture prototype that was widespread during his reign. The model was completed in 1690, the year of the sculptor's death. Casting began immediately and, in 1692, the statue of the king and his mount were transported to Auxerre. But after a few kilometres, the poor roads in Burgundy in the second half of the 17th century and the weight of the bronzes made further transport unthinkable. It wasn't until 1718 that the whole thing was finally transported to Dijon, where the statue was unveiled in 1725. The monument wasn't finally completed until 1747, when the gate and commemorative plaques were affixed. Tragically, the work was destroyed in 1792, a victim of revolutionary vandalism. The Sun King is depicted as a Roman Emperor, holding the baton of command in his right hand, in keeping with the ideas developed by Colbert to promote the royal image. Our bronze is an attractive reduction of the lost bronze, to the scale of the model made by Le Hongre, which the King enjoyed every day, having it enthroned in the centre of the oval salon of his private flats among the most prestigious crown bronzes.