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Partisan Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643)

ca. 1658–1715
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 376
This partisan, along with two like it also in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (acc. nos. 14.25.454, 04.3.65), are thought to have been carried by the Gardes de la Manche (literally, “guards of the sleeve,” indicating their close proximity to the king), an elite unit of the bodyguard of Louis XIV. This example (along with 04.3.65) bears the king’s motto and sunburst above the crowned arms of France and Navarre, which are encircled by the collars of the royal orders of the Holy Spirit and Saint Michael. 04.3.65 is inscribed RAVOISIE FOVRBISSEVR DV ROY A PARIS, probably referring to Bonaventure Ravoisie, a royal cutler recorded between 1678 and 1709.


The other partisan (14.25.454) is from a small group designed by Jean Bérain the Elder (1637–1711) for the marriage of Louis’s niece Marie-Louise d’Orléans to Carlos II of Spain in 1679. The decoration features a sunburst surmounted by the king’s motto, NEC PLURIBUS IMPAR (not equaled by many). Beneath, the sun god Apollo is being crowned with laurel by the winged figure of Fame. The sunburst and Apollo were favorite symbols of Louis XIV, the self-styled Sun King.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Partisan Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643)
  • Date: ca. 1658–1715
  • Geography: Paris
  • Culture: French, Paris
  • Medium: Steel, gold, wood, textile, brass
  • Dimensions: L. 94 3/8 in. (239.7 cm); L. of head: 20 3/4 in. (52.7 cm); W. of head 5 7/8 in. (15 cm);
  • Classification: Shafted Weapons
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1904
  • Object Number: 04.3.64
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

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Three Partisans Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643)
14.25.454 designed by Jean Berain (French, Saint-Mihiel 1640–1711 Paris)
ca. 1658–1715
Costume Armor in the Classical Style, Hallé French, Helmet: linen, papier-mâché, bole, gold leaf, graphite; tunic: silk, cotton, metal coils and spangles, metallic yarn, French, Paris
Costume Armor in the Classical Style
Helmet includes original paper label of Hallé
ca. 1788–90
Partisan Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643), Bonaventure Ravoisie French, Steel, gold, wood, textile, brass, French, Paris
Partisan Carried by the Bodyguard of Louis XIV (1638–1715, reigned from 1643)
Sword cutler Inscription probably refers to Bonaventure Ravoisie
ca. 1678–1709
Armor of Infante Luis, Prince of Asturias (1707–1724), Jean Drouart French, Steel, gold, brass, silk, cotton, metallic yarn, paper, French, Paris
Armor of Infante Luis, Prince of Asturias (1707–1724)
Armorer Signature probably refers to Jean Drouart
dated 1712
Bassoon, Dominique Antony Porthaux French, Maple, brass, French
Bassoon
Dominique Antony Porthaux
1790–1800

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