Marie-Antoinette at the Grand Palais
Each year, on the first Sunday following the 16th of October, the anniversary of the death of Marie-Antoinette, a Mass is said for the repose of her soul in various Catholic churches across France and on the Place de la Concorde, the spot where her life was cut short.
During her life and after her death, public opinion regarding Marie-Antoinette shifted numerous times. During the 19th Century, she was viewed as a martyr. More recently, she is assuming icon status. Her life has become more accessible to an anglophone public with the publication of a biography (Antonia Fraser’s Marie-Antoinette, The Journey). Sadly, the Sophia Coppola film taught us more about Hollywoodian nepotism than about French history.
Now, a new exhibition at the Grand Palais, entitled simply Marie-Antoinette, assembles more than 300 works, both paintings and sculpture, as well as the decorative arts that surrounded her in her daily life as she traveled from the Austrian imperial court toward the scaffold.
After a somewhat slow, but agreeable start consisting mainly of portraits, all of a sudden, one turns a corner and audible gasps may be heard. The scenography is the work of Robert Carsen, one of the most visible (and sometimes controversial) stage directors on the world opera scene. The effect is best described as theatrical. It adds a new dimension to the exhibition — history, seen more clearly through fantasy.
I really don’t want to say too much and risk spoiling the element of surprise that makes this exhibition so special. I would urge you to pay special attention to the furniture (realized in mother-of-pearl) from the Queen’s boudoir at Fontainebleau and to some extraordinary pieces in porcelain. The paintings by Madame Vigée-Lebrun, the official portraitist, are delightful.
The exhibition continues until 30 June. If you are in Paris during that time, it is a must-see.
Jan del Monte, blogging from the rue du Cherche-Midi, Paris, France
Credit: Portrait of Marie-Antoinette by Elizabeth-Louise Vigée-Lebrun (Chateaux de Versailles et du Trianon)
© 2008 Jan del Monte
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I am going to Paris in May/June and will see this for sure! Sounds wonderful!
ladyjicky, I know you must be excited. Be sure to check the Save the Date post each month. I’ll be looking for interesting things. I think you’ll like this exhibition — I know I’ll be going back before it ends.
Found your blog for the first time and thanks to the ceramic Sèvres wall – on which I posted recently. Your blog is exactly in my taste; like it a lot – it’s now one of my “favorites”!
Marie-Antoinette is in fashion again! I read the book and found it very interesting. The Sofia Coppola film has of course very little in common with the book, but I somehow liked it as a pure moment of relxation and amusement (forget about the true history facts). (I actually posted about MA and the film last spirng.)
For sure, I will visit Grand Palais!
Welcome, Peter. I’m glad the registration worked. Thanks for your kind comments. As you know, I really like your blog, too.
I have to admit I liked the costumes and scenery in the film, but then Versailles is pretty photogenic.
Anyone who would like to see some great photos of Paris should visit Peter’s blog at http://www.peter-olson.blogspot.com.