Posts tagged louis xiv
a marie antoinette blog
Royal Treasures from the Louvre: Louis XIV to Marie-Antoinette, an unparalleled collection of decorative arts from the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Many of the objects in the exhibition have never been shown in the United States and indeed, several have never left France, including some of the most exquisite treasures of the French monarchy from the time of Louis XIV until the Revolution of 1789. Royal Treasures from the Louvre: Louis XIV to Marie-Antoinette is a dazzling illustration of the story of French royal patronage, displayed for the first time in the United States in this exclusive presentation.
100 recipes inspired by the “Great Century” to get a taste of dishes at the source of our cuisine 400 years after they were created.
The cookbook is available in French and English from the online shop.
Gastronomy was an essential part of life at the Court of Versailles. The royal tables were lavishly set under the different kings, helping to assert royal power. The reign of Louis XIV saw the development of a lavish, refined cuisine bearing the seeds of modern gastronomy.
The dishes in this book are based on recipes developed in the 17th century by great chefs: La Varenne (Le Cuisinier françois, Le Pâtissier françois), Pierre de Lune (Le Cuisinier, Le Nouveau et parfait cuisinier) and Massialot (Le Cuisinier roïal et bourgeois, L’Escole parfaite des Officiers de bouche). The ingredients and cooking methods have been adapted to contemporary products and utensils in order to make the recipes easy to prepare.
To whet your appetite, the following pages unveil the mouth-watering secrets of three dishes: asparagus omelette, braised chicken and pear pie.
via the Chateau de Versailles:
Restoration of the Latona Fountain
In November 2012, the restoration of the Latona Fountain will begin, thanks to a major partnership, with Fondation Philanthropia announce for the preservation of cultural heritage and the transmission of skills and expertise.
The Latona Fountain, with its marble tiers, rich lead and sculpted marble decoration, and intricate water features, is probably the most famous mast erpiece in the gardens of Versailles. Located in the centre of the east -west Grand Perspect ive, it marks the st art of the Royal Walk leading to the Apollo Fountain. It is the lynch pin of the hydraulic system of the park of Versailles: the water collected in its underground galleries supplies the other fountains of the park.
Today, over three centuries after it was built, its restoration has become imperative. Work is urgently needed on its infrast ructure, hydraulics and sculpted decorations. The deterioration, notably of the rimstones, has affected the overall stability of the structure and the waterproofing of the basin. The sculptures and the marble features are in a state of grave disrepair. The internal and external hydraulic system has also suffered a great deal of damage, and this has contributed to the current malfunctioning of the garden’s overall hydraulic system.
The work, which will begin in early November 2012 and run for 16 months, will be carried out in accordance with ancient techniques by numerous artisans, master craftsmen and engineers. In parallel, an educational exhibition will be organized to inform the general public and showcase the techniques and skills of the period.
Paintings from “The Last Walk of Louis XIV,” a series of paintings by Alexandre Benois which contrast the fraily of the aged king with the vastness of Versailles.
Archaeology in Versailles: Queen’s Grove (Labyrinth of Louis XIV)
In 2008, the archaeological probes made in the Queen’s Grove revealed traces of the former Labyrinth of Louis XIV. Archaeological probes were carried out in June and July 2008 in the Queen’s Grove. Their aim was to find the remains of the Labyrinth buried under the surface of the grove’s soil. Read more.
All images via the chateau de Versailles website. © A. Heitzmann
The “cloth” in the Cour Royale
Major construction at the palace of Versailles often involves temporarily occupying public spaces with scaffolding and other equipment. Currently, the roofs of the central section of the palace are being restored, which requires extensive scaffolding to be placed in the royal courtyard of the palace. To combat the unsightly appearance of the scaffolding, the artist Pierre Delavie has created an interesting artistic cloth to cover the scaffolding. This cloth is meant to invoke both “Versailles,” that of the palace court and the magnificent gardens, as well as bring attention the campaign for the donations/adoption of trees, benches and statues in the park of Versailles.
The scaffolding and cloth are estimated to remain in the courtyard until June of 2012, when the restoration of the roofs in this area will be completed.
All images are from the Chateau de Versailles website, © Nexans/Tabou
The Walks of Versailles, or the network of rectangular pathways in the gardens. During the 17th century, these walks were lined with fences and trees that met overhead.
(text and images via the chateau de Versailles website)
The Royal Walk
Also called the “Green Carpet”, because of the strip of lawn that runs down the middle, the Royal Walk is 335 metres long and 40 metres wide. It was laid down under Louis XIII, but Le Nôtre widened it and lined it with twelve statues and twelve vases, placed in symmetrical pairs. Most of them were works sent by the pupils of the Académie de France in Rome in the 17th century. Paths lead off to the Groves which the stroller will discover as he walks along.
The Water Walk
According to his brother Charles, celebrated for his tales, it was Claude Perrault, the architect, who designed this walk, also known as the “Marmousets” walk, a familiar derivation from “marmot”, a child. The promenade is flanked by twenty-two groups in bronze holding marble bowls of Languedoc.
The Flora and Ceres Walk
Placed symmetrically to the Bacchus and Saturn fountains, the Ceres and Flora fountains symbolise respectively Summer and Spring. Flora, half-naked, reclines on a bed of flowers surrounded by Cupids weaving garlands. The sculptor Tuby produced this group between 1672 and 1677. Ceres, holding a sickle and surrounded by Cupids, lies on a bed of ears of corn. It is the work of the sculptor Regnaudin.
The Bacchus and Saturn Walk
The Bacchus (Autumn) and Saturn (Winter) walks have two pools or fountains decorated in their centre with gilded lead statues, the works of the Marsy brothers for the first and of Girardon for the second. They symbolise the four seasons with their corresponding figures of the northern part.
In his guide to the gardens, Louis XIV speaks of them in these terms: “on the other side, the royal walk, Apollo, the canal, the green groves, Flora, Saturn, Ceres on the right, Bacchus on the left”.
Archaeology in Versailles: Round Green Grove (former Water Theatre of Louis XIV)
In 2011, archaeological excavations were carried out in the Round Green grove which uncovered vestiges of the former Water Theatre of Louis XIV. Read more.
All images via the chateau de Versailles website. © A. Heitzmann
