Equestrian Statue of King Louis XIV (1669 – 1670) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598 – 1680)

This particular piece is a small terracotta model of King Louis XIV which was later made into a larger statue. As Bernini was getting old, he had to use the help of his students to create the sculpture. The idea behind making this statue was to resemble Alexander the Great. The statue was sent to King Louis in Paris and he did not like the style in which it was made, so he kept it the bottom of his gardens. Not too long, another sculptor Girardon stepped in and changed the statue into looking like Marcus Curtius (Roman hero).

In the original design, King Louis XIV rode on a mighty steed up what looks to be a mountain. The mountain type of base was no longer in existence instead it was replaced with a gathering of flames as can be seen above. It is said that the new design has the male figure resembling Hercules and the horse looks like one from a Constantine statue. The style used can only be described as Baroque due to the dramatic action, the twist in both the king and the horse and how movement was capture in the statue. When Bernini had the idea for creating this statue, he more likely did a quick sketch before sculpting as King Louis XIV rode around on his horse.