North end of Hall of Mirrors

Here’s what I meant by “propaganda”. At the north end of the hall, leading into the Peace Salon, is this picture, captioned with “La Holland accepte la paix et se détache de l’Allemagne et de l’Espagne, 1678” (Holland accepts peace and separates from Germany and Spain, 1678). It refers to the Peace of Nijmegen, ending the Franco-Dutch War. Though France got mostly favourable terms, it did have to give up a few of its territorial gains. But in the long run it definitely established Holland as a military power in Northern Europe, and France’s overly grabby behaviour would serve to isolate it politically for the next century — and beyond, since the Revolution certainly didn’t win it any friends.

But no matter, it’s portrayed here as one of Louis XIV’s triumphs! And it’s just one of many vignettes all along the ceiling.