Versailles Palace exhibition in Canberra, Australia

The National Gallery of Australia in Canberra is holding an exhibition of treasures from the Versailles Palace in Paris, France, from 9 December 2016 until 17 April 2017. The exhibition called Versailles: Treasures from the Palace highlights the life, culture, and art of Versailles.

The Versailles Palace is the largest palace ever built. Buckingham Palace in London, England, would fit into the grounds of Versailles many times over. Versailles was the grand vision of Louis XIV, who referred to himself as the Sun King.

It is actually three palaces, two gardens, and extensive parklands that have undergone renovations several times. Three French kings lived there: Louis XIV(1643-1715), Louis XV (1715-1774), and Louis XVI (1774-1792). From a hunting lodge, it was transformed into a luxurious palace. The construction of the palace began in 1662 in many phases. The architect was Louis Le Vau (1612-1670), the painter and decorator was Charles Le Brun (1619-1690), and the garden designer was Andre Le Notre (1613-1700).

This glamorous exhibition is held in Australia for the first time. It includes royal paintings, intricate tapestries and luxurious gilded furniture, as well as crockery, urns, furniture, and even a piece of the golden gate to the Versailles Palace.

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 their mistresses. Along with a gilded harp, there is an 18^th century birdcage, and several fans.

There is an impressive display of the statue in the Latona Fountain from the palace grounds. The statue of Latona and her children was the centrepiece of one of the main fountains in the formal gardens at the Palace of Versailles. The 1.5-metre-high statue has been transported to Australia on a special freight plane and appears with a backdrop of a visual images of the flowing fountain water.

On the floor in one room is a large 1682 carpet from the palace's Grande Galerie.

There is a bust of Louis XIV (1665–66) - the Sun King - by Jean Varin, and the desk of the dauphin, son of Louis XV, made in 1745 by Bernard van Risenburgh. It was made for the son’s marriage, and shows the Rococo curves, gilded details, and secret drawers.

One of the paintings (1725) is a French school that is usually in the Royal Chapel of the palace.

There is also the painting of The Sourches Family (1756) by François‐Hubert Drouais. This portrait is over three metres high.

The NGA 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 experience.

http://nga.gov.au/Versailles/

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

2016 update on Rike Park, Tbilisi: from construction to busy park

From a flat patch of uninteresting dirt, Rike Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, has transformed in four years (from 2014-2016) into a busy park full of trees, flower beds, sculptures, fountains, and events. Rike (Rikhe) Park is on the left bank of the Mt’k’vari River (the Kura River) near the Old City of Tbilisi. The Peace Bridge links the right bank to Rike Park. Rike Park is below the hillside Presidential Palace and, via cable car, it is the starting point for the ride to Sololaki Ridge (with the Narikala Fortress and the Mother of Georgia statue). The glass box-shaped cable car terminus was opened on 23 June 2012, and since then the park has continually developed into a ‘people’s park’ where people can walk around, eat at the nearby restaurants, sit next to the statue of American president Ronald Reagan, climb the steps to Avlabari district, and access the sights of Meidan Square, the Peace Bridge, the Metekhi Church, the Old City, the waterfall, the sulphur baths, and t...

Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

The Perfect Mentor pbuh (2011) is set in Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan. The novel commences with Imama Mubeen in medical university. She wants to be an eye specialist. Her parents have arranged for her to marry her first cousin Asjad. Salar Sikander, her neighbour, is 18 years old with an IQ of 150+ and a photographic memory. He has long hair tied in a ponytail. He imbibes alcohol, treats women disrespectfully and is generally a “weird chap” and a rude, belligerent teenager. In the past three years he has tried to commit suicide three times. He tries again. Imama and her brother, Waseem, answer the servant’s call to help Salar. They stop the bleeding from his wrist and save his life. Imama and Asjad have been engaged for three years, because she wants to finish her studies first. Imama is really delaying her marriage to Asjad because she loves Jalal Ansar. She proposes to him and he says yes. But he knows his parents won’t agree, nor will Imama’s parents. ...

Hop on hop off bus tourism comes to Tbilisi, Georgia

City Sightseeing buses have arrived in Tbilisi. The iconic red double-decker buses, a feature of many cities around the world since the company was established in Seville, Spain in 1999, is now in six continents and almost 100 cities. The company established its Tbilisi business in November 2013, with its operations commencing in February 2014. The 90-minute tour stops at 11 major locations in Tbilisi (with 2 to 5 minute waiting times at each location): the Old City (where it commences), Freedom Square, Rose Revolution Square, Marjanishvili Square, the Dry Bridge, Konka, Avlabari, Metekhi, Akhundov Museum, the Sulfur Baths, and European Square. Passengers can hop off at any stop and see the sights, hopping back onto the next bus at any time. Alternatively, passengers can remain on the bus for the whole tour and take photographs when the bus stops at each location. There are one day (24-hour) passes (for 35 lari – about $20) and 48-hour passes for 55 lari, with family d...

FEAST OR FAMINE

Search This Blog