Final answer:
Monarchs are often portrayed in art with symbolic elements that emphasize their divine right and authority, as shown in Las Meninas and traditional representations of royalty such as Queen Blanche of Castile and Louis IX.
Step-by-step explanation:
The monarchs play the role of the reflected rulers so well it fools the painter. This concept is vividly demonstrated in the painting known as Las Meninas by Velázquez, where the artist captures the complexity of representation and illusion in art. The mirror in the background of the Royal Alcazar of Madrid reflects the king and queen, suggesting multiple interpretations of their presence and role within the painting. Similarly, traditional portrayals of monarchs in art, often with symbolic elements such as the fleur-de-lys crowns and positions of power, were meant to echo their divine right and authority, as seen in the iconography of Queen Blanche of Castile and her son Louis IX, as well as in the grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV.