The King of Siam Observing the Lunar Eclipse from his Palace, Jan Luyken, 1687
etching, h 142mm × w 159mm More details
In the portrait Narai is presented as a ‘stereotypical’ oriental monarch. His likeness is therefore more of a European interpretation than a portrait of an individual. The print at the upper right illustrates the first French diplomatic visit to Siam. The observation of the lunar eclipse, lower right, took place on 11 December 1685. By introducing Narai to the latest developments in astronomy, the French Jesuits hoped to win him over to Catholicism.
