The Fan Museum, Greenwich, is unfolding fans for Louis XIV in an exhibition entitled “A Fanfare for the Sun King” from 3rd June until 21st September 2003. This exhibition will show some rare fans and fan leaves made for Louis XIV or made during his reign. Like pages of history, these fans give an extraordinary insight into the life at the court of Louis XIV, but also reveal some of the secrets of his personal life, and help to discover the persona behind the King.

We know that Louis XIV, the Sun King, was meticulously interested in everything that concerned him or his image. All his commissions were accompanied by written instructions, often in his own hand. Even a project drawing for a fan leaf (lent by the Bibliothèque Nationale of France) is annotated by Louis XIV with comments such as “trop de chiens” (“too many dogs”) and “la canne n’est pas assez haute” (“the baton should be higher”).

Everything that touched on his “Gloire”, France’s Fame or reputation, was part of a well thought out “propaganda”. What more appropriate tool for his “Public Relations” than a delicate fan, carried by the beautiful women to whom Louis was so partial, to portray him in miniature, often under the guise of mythology and exoticism, surrounded by a powerful aura of nonchalant mystery.

By studying French fan leaves of the 17th century (often dismounted and extended), we rediscover the world described in the journal Mercure Galant in every detail. For example, in one of the fans belonging to The Fan Museum, we see the royal family of France gathered together on the occasion of the Twentieth Birthday of the Grand Dauphin in 1681. The King and Queen are seated while other members of this large family stand around them in full Court dress. Madame’s dress matches a description in one of her own letters! (Madame was the King’s sister in law).

It has been possible to bring together some fifty fans and fan leaves belonging both to museums (Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, Musée Carnavalet) and to private collectors. This exhibition is a first of its kind, combining both art and history in a new and original format.

In addition, various objects such as vases imported from China – which were much admired by the nobility (cf. the Trianon de Porcelaine which was built for Madame de Montespan, Louis XIV’s mistress) will be on show alongside the fans, thus giving the visitor an insight into the long-forgotten world of Perrault’s fairy tales.

A catalogue will accompany the exhibition and a book, written by former Chairman of NADFAS Pam Cowen, is to be published by The Fan Museum both in French and English.