Voltaire once said that Louis XIV contributed 2 times more to France than his ancestors. Because of him, France became a fashion empire. So, what did Louis XIV contribute to France?
the first one is the contribution to aesthetics and fashion. If you have eaten French food, then you are influenced by it; If you love to wear perfume, then you are also influenced by it; If you love to wear high heels, yes, you are still influenced by him ...
The era of Louis XIV's rule was the era when the French art of living prevailed. Today, the world is full of yearning for French life, and almost all the elegance, exquisiteness and romance represented by the word France began to take shape and be established at that time. French fashion, art, architecture and music can all be traced back to that era.
At that time, people tirelessly pursued good food, fine wine and exquisite skills, as well as the wonderful enjoyment of every moment in life. And all this is because they have a different king.
In his mind, life should be luxurious and comfortable, and it was under his influence that a European luxury wind rose in France in the 17th century. He has great passion and keen sense for fashion. When he was in office, he was called the peak of male aesthetics. In the eyes of Europeans at that time, France was the authority of fashion and taste.
the second is the contribution of music and dance. Louis XIV was not only a militaristic warmonger, but also had an extraordinary love for art.
He likes ballet very much. Since he first stepped onto the stage at the age of 15, he has played the leading role in 26 major ballets in his life.
At the age of p>23, he founded the world's first Royal Ballet School in Paris, and hired artists at that time to be responsible for the creation and performance of ballet. It was then that ballet established the basic movements and dance steps and laid the foundation for modern ballet. It can be said that without Louis XIV, perhaps there would be no ballet as an art form.
In addition to ballet, Louis XIV held a court ball every week, even during the war. He regarded the ball as a force to maintain the dignity of the royal family and asked ministers to prepare 12 dances every year, and the posture and pace could not be repeated. The common people can also participate in these palace dances, and they have learned not only superb dance skills, but also the dance manners and social etiquette spread among them.
Dancing needs music accompaniment. Louis XIV had a huge royal band of 2 musicians. In the second year after he founded the Dance Academy, he founded the Conservatory of Music, and various music forms began to enrich. His court dance music developed and opened the era of baroque music.
the third is to make France an art capital.
Louis XIV's real ambition is to make Paris equal to or even surpass Rome, the pearl city of the Renaissance.
In order to satisfy this huge vanity, he successively founded the French Academy of Oil Painting and Sculpture, the College of Arts, the Theatre Academy and the Academy of Sciences, established a complete art education system, and trained a large number of artistic talents.
He also built the luxurious Palace of Versailles on a large scale, which became the model for monarchs of all countries to build palaces. Paris was completely renovated, paved with avenues, built magnificent buildings and beautiful squares, and became one of the best metropolises in the world at that time. In this way, France replaced Italy as the center of European civilization and literature and art.
driven by Louis XIV, the whole French society's pursuit of elegance, taste and exquisite life has reached an unprecedented height in history.
France has also become the object of emulation in Europe. French baroque and rococo architectural decoration styles swept across Europe; Balls and etiquette in French courts are widely spread as noble and elegant standards; Even Louis XIV's behavior and dress habits were imitated by people; French has become the common language of royal families and upper classes in European countries. Paris has also become the center of fine art and fashion, and ladies from all over Europe are keen to buy clothes and accessories in Paris.
As Voltaire said, Louis XIV contributed 2 times more to France than his ancestors. A king, a country, a dynasty, thus created the world's infinite imagination of civilization and life.