Fireworks display with triumphal arch supported by three pontoons on the water, decorated with symbols of Louis XIV
17th century
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet: 16 3/4 × 12 9/16 in. (42.5 × 31.9 cm) Plate: 13 13/16 × 10 11/16 in. (35.1 × 27.2 cm)
Classification
Prints|Prints-Fete|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.670.42
Tags
Art Historical Context
This enchanting 17th-century French etching captures a spectacular fireworks display on the water, featuring a grand triumphal arch ingeniously supported by three pontoons. Adorned with symbols of Louis XIV—the Sun King himself—the arch evokes imperial glory amid bursts of light and revelry. Ships dot the scene, suggesting a festive riverine spectacle, perhaps on the Seine during one of the era's lavish royal fêtes. Created anonymously during Louis XIV's reign (1643–1715), the print reflects the opulent propaganda art that celebrated the absolute monarchy. Fireworks and temporary architecture...