Louis XIV (Cour Napoleon du Louvre) - Equestrian Statues on Waymarking.com

Long Description:
Gian Lorenzo Bernini: (1598-1680) was a "Jack-of-all-trades." He was a playwright, a painter, a composer, an architect, a theater designer, and caricaturist. However, he was most known for his sculpting.
Louis was so pleased with Bernini's work that he granted him an annual pension and in 1665 commissioned him to sculpt an equestrian statue of himself. This was to be Bernini's last royal symbol of the king. The original statue was actually carved from a single block of Carrara marble by Bernini's students and was completed prior to 1673. This classic, glorified flourish of Baroque art was not sent to Versailles until 1685, five years after the sculptor's death. Louis took an instant dislike to it. He first ordered it to be broken into pieces but relented and had it exiled to the far end of the gardens near the Pool of the Swiss Guards after his likeness was removed.

The American architect I.M. Pei, who was in charge of the grand renovation project of the Louvre, persuaded the officials at Versailles to make a copy of this statue which he placed in front of his famous glass pyramid entrance to the Louvre. This copy, cast in lead, is the only sculpture in the plaza/court surrounding the glass pyramid. Permission was granted by Versailles officials for a third and final copy to be cast for the Splendors of Versailles exhibition in Jackson. The Mississippi copy of the statue weighs ten tons and stands twelve feet, seven inches tall. Cast in crushed Carrara marble powder dust, this statue will permanently remain in Mississippi after the Jackson exhibition has concluded.

Identity of Rider: King Louis XIV Name of artist: Gian Lorenzo Bernini Material: Other Position: Two Hooves Raised Identity of Horse: Not listed Date of Dedication: Not listed Unusual Features: Not listed

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