Scale model of a cannon given by the Parliament of Franche-Comté to Louis XIV Breech detail

This scale model demonstrates an important step in the formation of the French territory: the annexation of the Franche-Comté region, which was previously owned by the king of Spain. For the notable figures of Franche-Comté, this was a way to demonstrate their loyalty to the king from 1676, although the annexation didn't come into effect until 1678, when the Treaties of Nijmegen were signed.
The cannon was created by chiseler Laurent Ballard. Made from gilt bronze, it is richly decorated from the breech to the muzzle. The entirety of the iconography is an homage to the glory of the Sun King. On the chase, Louis XIV is depicted as a Roman emperor, surrounded by laurel leaves. The far end of the chase is decorated with trophies, overlooking the coat of arms of the kingdom of France, and sitting atop the royal crown and encircled by the collars of the orders of Saint-Michel and of the Holy Spirit.
The reinforce bears depictions of the sieges of Besançon and Dôle. In each of these depictions, the king is portrayed as head of the army, on horseback and with his baton of command. The carriage, decorated with fleurs-de-lis and royal suns, is aligned with the technical and iconographic wealth of this piece of pomp, which is a true ode to the glory of the king.