In the painting two members of L'ordre royal de Saint-Esprit (Royal Order
of the Holy Ghost) can be easily identified. They are Jean Baptiste Colbert and Louis
XIV, who both are wearing the insignia of the order i.e a large Maltese Cross with the
ascending pigeon in the center and a blue ribbon (cordon bleu). According to article XIII
of the statutes it was about
plus en plus exciter et astreindre nos sujets à
persévérer en Sa sainte religion catholique, apostolique et romaine, et
pareillement, pour illustrer l'estat de la noblesse de nostre royaume
.
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