Quiz for Picturing the Past: Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre, 1701

Picturing the Past: Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre, 1701

1. Question

   What lesson might an eighteenth-century viewer have been expected to draw from the prominent display of the fleur de lys, the symbol of France, on the king’s mantel and his furniture?

   A.

   That the king was loyal to France

   B.

   That France made the king

   C.

   That the king was France

   D.

   That the king was of French royal blood

   Correct. The answer is c. Louis XIV believed in the divine right of kingship and in the proposition that he was the embodiment of his nation.

   Incorrect. The answer is c. Louis XIV believed in the divine right of kingship and in the proposition that he was the embodiment of his nation.

2. Question

   Which symbol of royal power is displayed most prominently in this portrait?

   A.

   The royal crown

   B.

   The royal sword

   C.

   The royal scepter

   D.

   The royal throne

   Correct. The answer is b. The sword is in the center of the painting and is the object closest to the viewer. This choice may have been a reflection of the importance Louis attached to his many wars.

   Incorrect. The answer is b. The sword is in the center of the painting and is the object closest to the viewer. This choice may have been a reflection of the importance Louis attached to his many wars.