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Versailles
A spectacularly opulent relic of royal wealth and power comes alive in Versailles . Highlighting the château’s vibrant, tumultuous past, the book covers everything from its metamorphosis from humble hunting lodge to palace, to the dismantling of its collections during the French Revolution and its restoration and status as a UNESCO World Heritage site today. In addition, the singular château is explored from top to bottom in an extravagantly extensive photographic tour that reveals the many priceless artistic and architectural treasures of this palace of palaces.
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480 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2012
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 17, 2019
Paris was the chosen destination for our family reunion in 2016. It was our first visit to this wonderful city and we loved our explorations each day to discover art and architecture and sample good food and wine. Sadly, we were unable to visit Versailles, as we simply ran out of time. However, this book more than makes up for it. The pictures are glorious! In fact, the 473 pages are mostly full of pictures with some text, which is very accessible. I am sad that I missed visiting Versailles in person, however, I am very glad this beautiful book, a wonderful resource, is available to enjoy.
May 11, 2015
Great 7" X 7" by 7 lb coffee table book of fabulously captioned photos of Versailles. They had me at the Hall of Mirrors but the historical and architectural comments and captions make it all come alive.
December 31, 2017
This book is a beautiful 'coffee table' book on Louis XIV' s gift to France, the Palace of Versailles and its gardens and fountains.
I highly recommend it to all history buffs, Louis XIV lovers and fans of France's last Queen, Marie Antoinette. The photographs of her rooms are thought provoking. Yes they're full of magnificent chandeliers and gilt, furniture but also there is a photograph of her library with books. Her husband, Louis XVI's rooms are just as grand, but his library looks Week used and it is a booklover's dream. I just wanted to reach for them and explore.
It provides lavish colour photographs with a history of what the rooms were used for. There's even a Winterhalter portrait of Queen Victoria who was a guest of King Louis-Philippe in 184 and Napoleon III in 1855. There's even a portrait of her uncle, King Leopold I of Belgium with King Louis-Philippe and his family. One of my favourite portraits is of the golden haired Louis XIV as a boy done by the French School. It's Illustration 141.
The outside gardens, parterres and fountains are lovingly photographed. The detail and scale are astounding. It has made me yearn for my own Basin of Apollo and shooting fountains.
Finally the book devotes space to the Grand Trianon, Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon and Hameau.
What the last photo of General Charles DeGaulle's study at the Trianon really reinforces is how much history has played out, is still being played out and will in the future be played out at Versailles. For Versailles belongs both to France and the world.
I highly recommend it to all history buffs, Louis XIV lovers and fans of France's last Queen, Marie Antoinette. The photographs of her rooms are thought provoking. Yes they're full of magnificent chandeliers and gilt, furniture but also there is a photograph of her library with books. Her husband, Louis XVI's rooms are just as grand, but his library looks Week used and it is a booklover's dream. I just wanted to reach for them and explore.
It provides lavish colour photographs with a history of what the rooms were used for. There's even a Winterhalter portrait of Queen Victoria who was a guest of King Louis-Philippe in 184 and Napoleon III in 1855. There's even a portrait of her uncle, King Leopold I of Belgium with King Louis-Philippe and his family. One of my favourite portraits is of the golden haired Louis XIV as a boy done by the French School. It's Illustration 141.
The outside gardens, parterres and fountains are lovingly photographed. The detail and scale are astounding. It has made me yearn for my own Basin of Apollo and shooting fountains.
Finally the book devotes space to the Grand Trianon, Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon and Hameau.
What the last photo of General Charles DeGaulle's study at the Trianon really reinforces is how much history has played out, is still being played out and will in the future be played out at Versailles. For Versailles belongs both to France and the world.
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September 18, 2018The thorny ethical problem with monuments like the Pyramids and Versailles is that they caused great misery, in terms of forced labor and taxation, among ordinary state inhabitants of the time to raise for the rulers, but they're localized centers of tourism for people now, and are somehow celebrated for some sentimental and artistic value. Anyways, this is a fat photobook of Versailles, complete with gilded edging.
December 8, 2019
Its amazing the palace still stands today, despite numerous times when being burned down or blown up were likely, but it is still here, and still amazes with its opulence and design.
This book takes you on a photographic tour of the palace, grounds, gardens, and various other buildings on site, leaving your awestruck at its beauty.
October 29, 2018
This book is filled with stunning photos and informational tidbits perfect for anyone planning a trip there or, if you're like me and you'll probably never see it in person.
January 27, 2021
it felt like 📈📉📈
May 31, 2013
This book doesn't profess to be an indepth history, but does offer an interesting and colorful array of some of the most breathtaking interior and exterior photos of the Palace of Versailles designed under Louis XIV (1643-1715) that set the standard for opulence in the Age of Absolutism. Following the abortive revolt of nobles against young Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin during the late 1640s and early 1650s, Louis XIV grew into adulthood and growing power with the determination to establish absolute and unquestioned authority in the person of the King. The Palace of Versailles was designed to overwhelm wealthy nobles and visiting potentates with the vast display of splendour, beauty and wealth possessed by the King of France. The France of Louis XIV was considered to be the most powerful nation in the World at that time. France had a population that was said to exceed that of Great Britain, Germany and Italy combined and the largest army in Europe. Although vast palaces constructed in other absolute monarchies such as Russia and even small kingdoms like Naples (Caserta) attempted to emulate or even surpass the splendors of Versailles, it remained the standard for over a century. Versailles was the seat of absolute power for Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI and was the principal royal residence for French kings until the Paris mob and authorities empowered by the French Revolution forced Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to leave Versailles for the Tulleries palace in Paris on October 6, 1789. Versailles never was the seat of power again after that date. --- The photos presented are of high quality and consist of many works of art as well as interior and exterior shots of the palace itself. It is a high quality picture book (good quality color) -- although the binding leaves something to be desired -- and well worth the comparatively modest price ($40 U.S.) This is not a detailed history book, but as some have said "a picture can convey a thousand words."
July 16, 2012
Combining an intelligent succinct text with an extravagant quantity of gorgeous photos, this is a book for anyone planning on going to Versailles or who wants to mentally revisit the chateau and grounds. As a former history major with a strong background in French history, I didn't need the explanation about the Bourbon dynasty, but I can appreciate how necessary that background information would be to the unfamiliar reader. What I did find enlightening was the history of the palace after the revolution of 1789. That was fascinating for me.
Also, I had never before come across so much information about the Trianon structures and Marie Antoinette's village. Very worthwhile.
Also, I had never before come across so much information about the Trianon structures and Marie Antoinette's village. Very worthwhile.
April 16, 2012
"A spectacularly opulent relic of royal wealth and power comes alive in Versailles. Highlighting the chateau's vibrant, tumultuous past, the book covers everything from its metamorphosis from humble hunting lodge to palace, to the dismantling of its collections during the French Revolution and its restoration and status as a UNESCO World Heritage site today. In addition, the singular chateau is explored from top to bottom in an extravagantly extensive photographic tour that reveals the many priceless artistic and architectural treasures of this palace of palaces"--
October 19, 2012
Beautiful. I knew when I saw the gilded page ends. Photos of contents and building/gardens.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews