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 18th 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.
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).
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