Creator

Jacques Roffet

Creation-date

1549

Technique

Engraving

Material

Paper

Inventory number

RES 4-LB31-20

Subject-1

French Monarchy

Object-Current-Location

Bibliothèque nationale de France

Digital resource author

GrECI Project

Digital-resource-rights holder

University of Franche Comté (for GrECI project)

Image-number

062_RP_17

License

CC BY

Description

The importance of Greek tradition and culture can also be seen in the monarchy's use of ancient symbols. At a time of religious conflicts, kings and queens often represented themselves in the form of ancient heroes or divinities. The monarchy sought to create a discourse and an imaginary world in which its representatives were seen as divinities capable of dealing with the troubles affecting the kingdom. Here we see the design of a triumphal arch commissioned by Henry II, depicting King François I, his father, as a Hercules gaulois.