Solo show
Archive
Hyacinthe Rigaud or the Sun Portrait
19 May 2021 — 13 Jun 2021 at Palace of Versailles
· Versailles
This exhibition at the Palace of Versailles shines a light on Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659–1743), the preeminent portrait painter of the French court and one of the most celebrated artists of the Grand Siecle.
Rigaud is best known for his iconic 1701 portrait of Louis XIV — a defining image of absolute monarchy and royal grandeur. The exhibition examines how Rigaud crafted a visual language of power, prestige, and personality, serving kings, nobles, and intellectuals alike across a career spanning more than six decades.
Through paintings, drawings, and archival documents, visitors are invited to discover the full breadth of Rigaud's art: his technical mastery of fabric, light, and likeness, and his ability to transform a sitter into an enduring symbol of authority and elegance.
Rigaud is best known for his iconic 1701 portrait of Louis XIV — a defining image of absolute monarchy and royal grandeur. The exhibition examines how Rigaud crafted a visual language of power, prestige, and personality, serving kings, nobles, and intellectuals alike across a career spanning more than six decades.
Through paintings, drawings, and archival documents, visitors are invited to discover the full breadth of Rigaud's art: his technical mastery of fabric, light, and likeness, and his ability to transform a sitter into an enduring symbol of authority and elegance.
About the artist
Hyacinthe Rigaud
1659–1743 · Baroque painting
Jacint Rigau-Ros i Serra, known in French as Hyacinthe Rigaud, was a Catalan-French baroque painter most famous for his portraits of Louis XIV and other members of the French nobility.
About the artist →About the venue
Palace of Versailles
· Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of the city centre of Paris, in the Yvelines department of Île-de-France region in France.