French School
Late 17th century, circa 1690
Repousse leather on oak core

H. 103,5 cm - W. 91 cm (40 3/4 in - 35 7/8 in)

Carved leather frame

This rarely-seen oval gild and repoussé leather medallion depicts the King Louis XIV (1638-1715) in profile, bust-length, aged to about fifty years, in the flower of his age. He wears an armour decorated with a grotesque mask at the level of a pad surrounded by an elegantly draper and a delicate lace ruff tied around his neck.
The portrait stands out on a background decorated with fleur-de-lis, emblem of the French Royal family, which is surrounded by a frieze of olives and small coins clearing corner-pieces ornamented with rosettes.
Our medallion is exalted by its richly carved original frame from 17th century consisting of acanthus leaves rhythmed in angles by stylized flowers.