A Battle for Hearts and Minds: Turenne and Louis XIV. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stone, Harriet
• Is Part Of: Seventeenth-century French studies. Volume 36:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: France -- Civilization -- 17th century -- Periodicals; French literature -- 17th century -- History and criticism -- Periodicals; 944.033
• DOI: 10.1179/0265106814Z.00000000040
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-1068

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>A commemorative fan marking the death of Turenne in 1675 is striking for its presentation of the general's dead body. In addition to the fan, I consider Turenne as eulogized by Fléchier, along with depictions of the death of Louis XIV by Dangeau, Saint-Simon, and in the official autopsy report. The experience of death disrupts the classical ideal. Playing out tensions between the body, the mind, and the soul, representations of death complicate Descartes's binarism and, in particular, the philosopher's concept of the mechanical body.</p> </abstract>