459. Mathieu Jacquet, French,

Equestrian Portrait of Henri IV, bas relief from the

“Belle Cheminée”, 1600-1601. Stone and marble.

Musée national du Château de Fontainebleau,

Fontainebleau. School of Fontainebleau.

 

 

Moving into the apartments of his predecessors in the château of Fontainebleau, Henri IV commissioned Mathieu Jacquet to create “The Beautiful Fireplace”. He was originally employed to decorate the main room of the palace.

The equestrian representation of the sovereign in bas relief is rooted in official Roman art. Like an imperator marching in front of his army, the sight of the triumphant king is offered to his visitors, while either side of him two figures in marble represent the benefits that the king wished to establish in his kingdom, Peace and Obedience. Portraying in a sculpture the traits of his sovereign, Jacquet disregards the strict Antique representation in profile to model this three-quarters portrait of Henri IV.