An excellent companion to the V&A exhibition, so excited to see it now after I have finished the book. Stunning visuals and in-depth exploration of Marie Antoinettes history, myth and meaning throughout changing times. Recommended to anyone, especially if you are new to MA and want an overview of her life.
Oh, great. Now I gotta go visit Versailles again. Definitely have to watch Coppola’s movie and compare it to Van Dyke’s version! The costumes! The drama! Thank you, Sheila, for gifting me this GORGEOUS book! Loved every word, every image, every footnote. Sad I couldn’t go to the actual exhibition. Quel dommage.
i love that in the 1780s, people from all over paris would visit versailles just to see marie antoinette’s wardrobe, and now, 240 years later, people from all over the world are coming to the v&a to do the exact same thing. i hope, wherever she is, she knows just how vast her influence over the fashion world is, and that she’s seen all the people who have been inspired by her everlasting style. vive la reine !
The companion book to the V&A exhibit on Marie Antoinette, with a stronger focus on the queen's life over her impact on culture and fashion. Part one includes detailed essays on different aspects of life at Versailles while part two is mostly puff pieces - short essays that do not much display why and how Marie Antoinette has remained such a lasting figure. The draw here is mostly the pictures, though I would have liked to see more from the second half. There is also something weird about family details - every mention of Louis XVI's aunts describes them incorrectly - not something that will stand out to the average reader, but an odd note for a book that does include notes and a bibliography.