A new curator for Versailles and much Royal entertainment

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Versailles is as exciting and beautiful as ever

Versailles is as exciting and beautiful as ever in winter

The king liked to entertain his court in Versailles and hunting, playing musical instruments and betting at games, organizing big balls with fireworks, were part of the court’s daily rituals. For Christmas and to honor Beatrix Saule’s extraordinary « reign » as director and curator in chief of Versailles, the exhibition « Fêtes et divertissements à la cour » assembled many wonderful artists.

Jean-Marc Nattier, Marie Leszczynska, 1748 et Marie-Josèphe de Saxe after Maurice Quentin de la Tour, 1749

Jean-Marc Nattier, Marie Leszczynska, 1748 and Marie-Josèphe de Saxe after Maurice Quentin de la Tour, 1749

The first room shows three monumental tapestries based on Oudry’s drawings of Louis XV th’s hunting scenes. The king on horseback directs the dogs. “Le déjeuner de chasse” by Jean-François de Troy (1737) came from the Louvre to illustrate the happiness of these sporty moments. And there is even a very feminine portrait of Duchesse de Bourgogne hunting with falcons with her ladies in waiting.

The cards shown here were played by the king and are very moving in there coarseness

The cards shown here were played and scribbled on by Louis XVI th, 1786-89, they indicate his tastes in games and partners

The next room is devoted to famous actors, (“French comedians” by Watteau) and writers or composers (Molière by Mignard and Grétry by Elisabeth Vigée Lebrun), then comes a salon de musique with only one harpsichord and a harp but many portraits by Nattier of royal princesses playing an instrument.

Charles Nicolas Cochin le jeune, Masked ball given for the wedding of the Dauphin, 1745

Charles Nicolas Cochin le jeune, “Yew tree masked ball given for the wedding of the Dauphin”, 1745. One can see eight guests disguised as trees on the left

Then come outdoor sports such as le Jeu de mail (premisces of croquet or golf ?), boating on the grand canal and all sorts of games: card games, billard, tric trac (the ancestor of backgammon). They all generate beautiful pieces of furniture and accessories such as this incredibly moving handwritten list of players and a small game of cards made of rough cardboard « which the King’s hand touched » as the scenographer Patrick Hourcade told me at the end of the exhibition. His previous show on classical furniture in 2014  was already a  huge hit. He managed this time, to play with decors of multiple operas and books on tricky games, many engravings of balls and fireworks, such different items that putting them together is a tour de force.

Pierre Denis Martin, Duchesse of Bourgogne hunting with falcons, 1700

Pierre Denis Martin, Duchesse de Bourgogne hunting with falcons, 1700

Henry Purcell will be played in the Opéra Royal in December, Lully in January, Rossini in February and Monteverdi and Mozart in March. Many concerts take place in the Chapelle Royale.

The show is a feast of erudite research and if you can face driving up to Versailles, which becomes a pleasure on a sunny day, you will come out of it exhilarated.

Concerts in the Chapelle royale are exceptional

Concerts in the Chapelle royale are exceptional and a rehearsal was just taking place when I walked by

While I was leaving the show, Catherine Pégard, the wonderful President of Versailles who was recently renewed, whispered in my ear: the new curator in chief is chosen, his name is Laurent Salomé, 53,  a specialist of XVII th century drawings who has already curated exceptional Impressionists exhibitions in the Rouen museum which he directed for ten years and more recently at the Grand Palais. Everyone seems happy with this nomination!

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2 Comments on “A new curator for Versailles and much Royal entertainment”

  1. I would like to know how to contact Laurent Salome. I have some Marie and Louis wedding memorabilia we have passed from generation to generation through the L’Amour family. Marie Frances L’Amour.

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