Crown to the Crossing Louis IX of France

✍️ Art Description This work portrays Louis IX of France riding forward on a white horse, captured mid-stride as he raises his sword toward the sky. Held by the blade, the weapon forms the shape of a cross—transforming power into an act of faith. Rendered in a raw cross-hatching style, the figure is built through line and movement rather than polished realism, allowing the hand of the artist to remain visible. Subtle tones of blue, gold, and red emerge within the cloak, where fleur-de-lis patterns echo the identity of France. In the distance, three architectural landmarks define the horizon: Sainte-Chapelle, Sorbonne, and Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis—representing faith, knowledge, and legacy. Crossing the foreground, the Calcasieu River Bridge anchors the piece in Lake Charles, connecting Old World origins to a present-day landscape. This composition bridges time and place— a king in motion, carrying history forward across the water.