Antoine Coysevox, of Spanish descent, had become a sculptor to King Louis XIV in 1666 and by 1679 was engaged at Versailles, enriching the Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors) and the Ambassador's staircase and carving the brilliant equestrian relief of the King (c. 1688) for the Salon de la Guerre.

Other important works are the tombs of the finance minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1685–87; Saint-Eustache, Paris) and Cardinal Mazarin (1689–93; Louvre) and the votive group of Louis XIV on the high altar of Notre-Dame.

These, like his formal portrait busts, have a marked Baroque character.