Artwork
Entry into Arras of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse
Entry into Arras of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Adam Frans van der Meulen. It is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.
About this work
Overview
Adam Frans van der Meulen’s oil painting records the 1693 ceremonial entry of Louis XIV and his consort Marie‑Thérèse into the fortified town of Arras. The canvas captures a bustling procession moving along a dirt road toward the city gates, framed by a bright sky and distant architecture.
Subject & Meaning
The work emphasizes the monarch’s triumph and the unity of his subjects, portraying a massive crowd of pedestrians and mounted figures that line the route of the golden carriage. By juxtaposing the regal vehicle with the surrounding populace, the painting underscores the king’s role as both sovereign and focal point of public celebration.
Technique & Style
Executed in a detailed, decorative manner characteristic of the late Baroque and early Rococo, van der Meulen employs a vivid palette: bright reds and golds for the carriage contrast with the softer greens and blues of the landscape. The composition is densely populated, with numerous small figures rendered in fine brushwork that convey movement and activity.
History & Provenance
Created for the French court, the painting served as a visual record of Louis XIV’s military and ceremonial achievements. It was later displayed at the Palace of Versailles, where it contributed to the king’s curated image of power and grandeur.
Artist & collection
Artist
Adam Frans van der Meulen or Adam-François van der Meulen (11 January 1632 – 15 October 1690) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman who was particularly known for his scenes of military campaigns and conquests.
Arrival of Louis XIV in front of Douai, July 2, 1667
Flemish Town Sieged by the Spanish Soldiers
Untitled
Frederik Hendrik at the surrender of Maastricht, 22 August 1632
Prince Frederik Hendrik at the siege of 's-Hertogenbosch, 1629
Departure of Spanish Occupation Troops from Breda, October 10, 1637
Soldaten im Lager
Mehemet Effendi, ambassadeur turc arrive aux Tuileries, 21 mars 1721
View of the siege of Lille, from the side of the Prory of Fives, August 1667
Sitio de Ostende
Field camp