Coupole du Salon de la Guerre (Cupola of the Salon of War) [pl. 35]

Executed as an engraving on laid paper, the image relies on delicate, intersecting lines to model space, texture, and movement. Massé’s precise hatching creates depth within the vaulted interior and the crowded figures, while the ornamental margins display a decorative baroque sensibility. The print’s linear clarity allows intricate details—such as armor, horse tack, and cloud formations—to be reproduced faithfully for multiple copies.

Created by Jean‑Baptiste Massé, a French miniature painter and court artist to Louis XV, the work formed part of a larger series of history paintings. Massé is also noted for his role in the *Galerie de Versailles* publications, which documented Charles Le Brun’s oeuvre. The engraving has survived in several museum collections, reflecting its inclusion in 18th‑century print portfolios circulated among aristocratic patrons.

The cupola design references the grand salons of Versailles, where military triumphs were often celebrated through elaborate decorative programs. Produced during the reign of Louis XV, the print aligns with contemporary propaganda that linked royal authority to victorious warfare. Massé’s training of artists such as Jean‑Étienne Liotard and Cornelius Høyer further situates the engraving within a network of courtly artistic production.