Versailles

Treasures from the Palace

Exhibition
9 Dec 2016 – 17 Apr 2017
full-length portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette wearing silver and gold iridescent dress with voluminous skirt

after Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, Queen Marie‐Antoinette, 1779–80 © RMN-Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) / Gérard Blot

About

This sumptuous exhibition is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see and experience here in Australia a fascinating and often tumultuous period in French history. For the first time ever, treasures including royal paintings, intricate tapestries and luxurious gilded furniture have traveled from France to entice visitors into a world of power, passion and luxury through this epic exhibition.

Ranging from small objects such as Marie-Antoinette's hand-crafted chair and harp to huge works including six-metre tapestries produced for Louis XIV, the treasures bring to life the reigns of three kings, their queens and mistresses.

The exhibition celebrates the lives, loves and passions of the people of Versailles through a full program of activities including music performances, children's programs and public events.

The National Gallery has worked exclusively with master perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian, in scenting the foyer of the exhibition space with a fragrance inspired by Louis XIV to create an immersive and unforgettable exhibition experience.

Text sourced from: Versailles : Treasures from the Palace. Edited by Béatrix Saule and Lucina Ward. Canberra: National Gallery of Australia, 2016.

On Demand video – Versaille: Treasures from the Palace

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