Why is Louis XIV pulling back his garment to show his legs in the 1701 portrait by Rigaud?

A) The legs of the king were symbolic of him leading his people forward to prosperity.
B) The legs of the king were symbolic of all the country supporting the monarchy.
C) The king was a ballet dancer in his youth and was proud of his legs.
D) The king participated in equestrian jumping in his youth and was proud of his legs.

Louis XIV

King of France (1643–1715) known as the Sun King, under whose reign France became a leading European power, notable for his patronage of the arts and the construction of the Palace of Versailles.

Portrait by Rigaud

Refers to a famous portrait of Louis XIV by Hyacinthe Rigaud, exemplifying the grandeur and power of the French monarchy in the early 18th century.

Symbolic

Symbolic refers to the use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts, often imbued with significant cultural, religious, or philosophical meanings.