In this artwork, how is the Context discussed?
On the death of King Charles II of Spain on 18 November 1700, Spain was beset by the dynastic ambitions of other European powers, resulting in a succession war. The Spanish king's will ruled out any idea of sharing and placed Philip, Duke of Anjou, second son of the Grand Dauphin and grand-son of Louis XIV at the forefront of legitimate contenders for the crown.
The future king of Spain, eager to take with him the image of his grandfather, convinced Louis XIV to order Hyacinthe Rigaud to paint what would become the absolute image of royal power and the reference picture for generations to come:His reputation [Rigaud's] having reached the king, because of the portrait he had done of the Grand Dauphin as commander at the siege of Philippsburg, he had the honor in 1700, to be appointed by His Majesty to paint Philip V, king of Spain, his grandson, a few days before his departure to take possession of his kingdom. This work inspired the king of Spain's request to the king, his grandfather, to give him his portrait painted by the same hand, which His Majesty granted him. Rigaud had the honor to start the following year; and when it was finished, the monarch found the resemblance so perfect and so beautifully decorated, he ordered Rigaud to make a copy of the same size, to send to the king of Spain, instead of the original. His Most Christian Majesty is painted standing, clad in his royal apparel. This picture is ten and a half feet high; it is located in Versailles, in the throne room, and the picture of the king of Spain is in the private room of His Majesty.
Such were the statements of Hyacinthe Rigaud, through a friend, in the autobiography he sent to the Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III in 1716.
These statements are corroborated by the mention of the corresponding payment in the books of accounts of the artist, in 1701: "The King and the King of Spain, and a copy of King's portrait of the same size as the original for his Catholic Majesty, in all 12,000 pounds ", the price of three pictures.  The same payment is charged to the royal buildings accounts on September 16, 1702: "Two large portraits of the King full-length, with the small sketch for the said portraits, as well as one for the full-length portrait of the king of Spain."
Cosimo III Philip, Duke of Anjou Louis XIV Grand Dauphin Versailles Hyacinthe Rigaud Charles II of Spain Philip V