Handsome bust of Louis XIV, France Postcard

A handsome bust of Louis XIV at Château Versailles. Louis XIV was known as Louis the Great ("Louis le Grand") or the Sun King (le Roi Soleil). He was born on 5th September 1638 and his reign, from 1643 to his death on 1st September 1715, began at the age of four and lasted over seventy-two years. He had an interesting way of keeping his courtiers loyal by housing them in Château Versailles and holding regular parties. Over the course of four building campaigns, Louis converted a hunting lodge built by Louis XIII into the spectacular Palace of Versailles, which has inspired various other palaces ~ from the immense Royal Winter Palace and Summer Residences in St. Petersburg, Russia as well as the petite Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland. There were many colourful portraits of Louis XIV, however this bust seems a more simple, elegant yet regal "portrait" befitting of a mighty and gifted king, great just as he was.