Voorkant van de stoet van Koning Lodewijk XIV van Frankrijk en zijn gevolg op de Pont-Neuf - Jan van Huchtenburg

A detailed etching by Jan van Huchtenburg depicting the ceremonial procession of King Louis XIV across the Pont-Neuf in Paris.

This etching captures a formal procession of King Louis XIV of France as he traverses the Pont-Neuf in Paris. Jan van Huchtenburg, a Dutch painter and engraver known for his military subjects and battle scenes, provides a meticulous record of the royal entourage. The composition is structured to document the scale of the event, with the monarch's guards, pages, and footmen arranged in a dense, orderly formation across the cobblestone bridge. The foreground features mounted figures, their horses rendered with attention to movement and posture. Behind them, the regiment of guards stands in lines, creating a sense of disciplined order that contrasts with the architectural backdrop of the Parisian cityscape. The buildings, including the Louvre and the Pont Bourbon, are depicted with precise line work, grounding the scene in a specific urban geography. The artist employs a high vantage point to ensure the viewer can observe both the individual participants and the collective mass of the procession. Below the main image, a numbered key provides identification for the various elements of the parade, such as the King's carriage, the Swiss Guard, and specific landmarks. This inclusion of a legend is characteristic of seventeenth-century topographical and historical prints, which functioned as both artistic records and informational documents. The use of fine, controlled lines allows for the clear delineation of period costumes, weaponry, and the textures of the stone bridge. This work offers a view into the ceremonial life of the French court, reflecting the rigid hierarchy and visual display associated with the reign of the Sun King. The print remains a useful resource for historians studying seventeenth-century urban planning and royal protocol in Paris.