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In the Early Modern era, the French kings, as many other European sovereigns, didn’t smile. In paintings, they were typically represented as grave and serious, triumphant and invincible, deeply absorbed in thought or prayer. Francis I made no exception, although he was also depicted as a smiling king – certainly a shy smile, but enough to make him stand apart from his predecessors. During the 16th century, Henry IV was likewise represented smiling, although not for the same reasons. In 1685, on the other hand, Louis XIV ordered the destruction of the Bernini’s statue which represented him as a smiling hero. How can we explain such discrepancies? This article analyses the motives behind Francis I’s smile and Louis XVI’s refusal to smile. Studying the royal smile between the 16th and 17th centuries enables us not only to better understand the evolution of the Monarchy and its relationship with the Divine Providence, but also to apprehend the political imaginary of the time: the transformation of the personal Grace into State Glory.