Stern decor of the galere reale

The decor of a galley like the Réale was rich: shimmering textiles for the flames, flags and pavilions, painted motifs on the hull, a richly decorated canopy to shelter distinguished guests, and sumptuous sculptures. These were mainly located at the stern, although there was also a small figure at the bow. Here, the sculptures form a veritable iconographic programme at the heart of which is King Louis XIV. He is depicted in the guise of Apollo at different stages of his life, the reliefs are scattered with numerous fleurs-de-lys, and the coat of arms of France - three fleurs-de-lys on an azure background - is featured on the crowning medallion.

The magnificence of these decorations has enabled them to be preserved to the present day. Certain elements were used both as decoration on the Grande Réale of 1664, and on that of 1688 (the four large panels depicting the seasons). All were kept in the sculptors' workshop at the Toulon arsenal, as precious relics of the creations of their peers, before being transferred, at the time attributed to Pierre Pujet, to the rooms of the Toulon museum and then to those in Paris. A study of their materiality, and in particular the layers of gilding, shows that all the sculptures were gilded several times, confirming the regular care with which they were treated. They remain masterpieces of the museum.