Marie Antoinette, Life At The Court Of Versailles

I just finished reading To The Scaffold: The Life of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson. One of history's most misunderstood figures, she continues to symbolize the glamorous, the extravagant and the decadence of French society before the revolution. Yet this account gives us a likable, empathetic woman and broadens our understanding of her. I know this is a decorating blog but I want to step outside of my normal posts and do something a bit different. While I am still in the mood for more of Marie, I thought a post about her life at court would be fun. Hope you enjoy!

This is an automaton made for the Queen that plays the harpsichord.

Now pay attention as you pay a visit to the Court of France

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Chateau Versailles

The Ch?Teau de Versailles is one of the most lovely achievements of 18th-century French artwork. The website began as Louis XIII?S looking inn before his son Louis XIV transformed and expanded it, shifting the court docket and government of France to Versailles in 1682. Each of the three French kings who lived there until the French Revolution brought improvements to make it more beautiful.

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A young Maria Antonia Josephina Johanna

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Enjoy your view of existence at court.

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Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

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The Hall of Mirrors. The Grande Galerie (La Grande Galerie in French), because it changed into called inside the 17th century, served day by day as a passageway and a waiting and assembly location, frequented by means of courtiers and the visiting public.

The vintage key to Chateau Versailles

The chamber is the main room of the rental, the one wherein the Queen spent most of her time. She slept here, frequently joined by means of the King. In the morning, she acquired here during and after her Toilette

When the palace turned into invaded via the rioters on 6 October 1789, Marie-Antoinette managed to break out from them via this little door onto a corridor which gave get admission to to the Queen?S internal flats, a dozen small rooms reserved for her personal existence and her servants.

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Marie Antoinette's writing desk. A gift for her 29th birthday.

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Her fan

Marie Antoinette, on the age of thirteen; this miniature portrait become sent to the dauphin, so he ought to see his bride earlier than he met her, by Joseph Ducreux (1769).

Profile medallion of Marie Antoinette as Dauphine of France in 1770, previous to her marriage.

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The Cabinet of the Meridian The particular form of this boudoir, with its reduce facets, made it feasible for the queen?S home servants to bypass from the huge bedchamber to the alternative chambers without disturbing the queen who, at noon, could go and rest there, hence the call Meridian.

Marie Antoinette's footwear at public sale.

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One of Marie Antoinette?S shoes, initially lost whilst the Queen and royal circle of relatives fled the Tuileries whilst it become stormed in 1792, along side embroidered garters as soon as belonging to Marie, and embroidered bonnet once belonging to her daughter, Marie Therese.

The Queen and her youngsters.

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Madame Royale and her younger brother Louis Joseph Xavier of France, Dauphin of France. I have a large needlepoint picture of this that I bought in England. It came from on old farm house and the new owners were "getting rid" of things left by previous owners. I had no idea who these people were until I started working on this post. Needless to say it was a pleasant surprise. You can see it below.

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It is believed now that Marie never said the phrase "let them eat cake". It is now believed a similar phrase was attributed to the queen of Louis XIV, Maria Theresa of Spain,who hearing one day the poor people pitied for being in want of bread, replied, "But, dear me, why do they not eat pie-crust?"

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Carriage used by the children of Marie-Antoinette.

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Her monogrammed handkerchief

It has been said that Louis XIV built Versailles for his court and Trianon for his family. And the Grand Trianon did serve the Sun King and his family. Built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the Grand Trianon is unabashedly one of his greatest works. Constructed of pink Languedoc marble between 1687-1689 in an Italianate-style, this two-story structure succeeds—architecturally and stylistically—where the chateau of Versailles fails.

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Le Petite Trianon

It was designed by Ange-Jacques Gabriel by the order of Louis XV for his long-term mistress, Madame de Pompadour, and was constructed between 1762 and 1768. But Madame de Pompadour died four years before its completion, and it was subsequently occupied by her successor, Madame du Barry. Upon his accession to the throne in 1774, the 20-year-old Louis XVI gave the château and its surrounding park to his 19-year-old Queen Marie Antoinette for her exclusive use and enjoyment. Marie longed to escape Louis and his court, and he gave her just the place.

The French Pavilion, used to host intimate garden parties

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The Queen's Hamlet.

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She loved this place where she could return to the pleasures of simple, rural pursuits, away from the pomp of Versailles.On the right, the Queen’s House itself, the ground floor comprised of a dining room and a games room, while the first floor was made up of a large living room, a small living room and a Chinese room; on the left, the Billiard Room, the ground floor comprised of a billiard room, and a private apartment on the first floor. From the top of the gallery, the lady of Trianon, wearing a simple white muslin dress and a straw hat, could oversee the work being done in the fields.

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Marie Antoinette's wedding ceremony carriage.

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Marie-Antoinette’s Harp Music was Marie Antoinette's passion and she had great talent. She could read music, sing & play the clavichord. The harp was her favorite instrument and her teacher was the gifted Philippe Joseph Hinner. This harp was made by Jean-Henri Naderman, luthier and harp-maker to the Queen, and was delivered in November, 1774. It is decorated with lilies & a cherub bearing the Queen’s arms. The sound board has paintings of Peace & Minerva, patroness of artists

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A lock

of Marie Antoinette's hair.

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The Marie Antoinette diamonds, said to be a gift from her husband, King Louis XVI. According to one legend, she had them with her when she was arrested fleeing the French Revolution in 1791.

Marie Antoinette's coffer.

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Surviving chemise worn by Marie Antoinette while in prison.

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Her last journal entry on Oct 16, the day of her execution at 4: 30 in the morning says "My God have mercy. I have no more tears to cry for you my poor children; farewell, farewell