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Marie-Antoinette
An intimate glimpse into the public and private world of one of history\'s most famous―and infamous―queensVisually rich and engaging, Marie-Antoinette offers a fascinating look at the multifaceted life of France’s last, ill-fated queen.Marie-Antoinette (1755–1793) continues to fascinate historians, writers, and filmmakers more than two centuries after her death. She became a symbol of the excesses of France’s aristocracy in the eighteenth century that helped pave the way to dissolution of the country’s monarchy. The great material privileges she enjoyed and her glamorous role as an arbiter of fashion and a patron of the arts in the French court, set against her tragic death on the scaffold, still spark the popular imagination.
In this gorgeously illustrated volume, the authors find a fresh and nuanced approach to Marie-Antoinette’s much-told story through the objects and locations that made up the fabric of her world. They trace the major events of her life, from her upbringing in Vienna as the archduchess of Austria, to her ascension to the French throne, to her execution at the hands of the revolutionary tribunal. The exquisite objects that populated Marie-Antoinette’s rarefied surroundings—beautiful gowns, gilt-mounted furniture, chinoiserie porcelains, and opulent tableware—are depicted. But so too are possessions representing her personal pursuits and private world, including her sewing kit, her harp, her children’s toys, and even the simple cotton chemise she wore as a condemned prisoner. The narrative is sprinkled with excerpts from her correspondence, which offer a glimpse into her personality and daily life.
In this gorgeously illustrated volume, the authors find a fresh and nuanced approach to Marie-Antoinette’s much-told story through the objects and locations that made up the fabric of her world. They trace the major events of her life, from her upbringing in Vienna as the archduchess of Austria, to her ascension to the French throne, to her execution at the hands of the revolutionary tribunal. The exquisite objects that populated Marie-Antoinette’s rarefied surroundings—beautiful gowns, gilt-mounted furniture, chinoiserie porcelains, and opulent tableware—are depicted. But so too are possessions representing her personal pursuits and private world, including her sewing kit, her harp, her children’s toys, and even the simple cotton chemise she wore as a condemned prisoner. The narrative is sprinkled with excerpts from her correspondence, which offer a glimpse into her personality and daily life.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 9, 2022
This book was bought to me by my mum ages ago. I never read it because I know so much already about Marie-Antoinette that I thought it would not be necessary.
As expected I have not learned anything new but it is still beautifully written and the illustrations are amazing.
There are a lot of pages about the decoration, the style, the fashion and I think it’s really well done.
As expected I have not learned anything new but it is still beautifully written and the illustrations are amazing.
There are a lot of pages about the decoration, the style, the fashion and I think it’s really well done.
March 22, 2017
Overall: Read the book for the pictures, not the words. Check out other biographies to get a more rounded view of her life.
I've read about half of the book so far and, while the graphics are amazing and I love seeing what Marie Antoinette saw at Versailles, the blatant misrepresentation of her as a person bothers me. Almost every block of text implies that she had a very manipulative and scheming agenda where other biographies portray her in a much more sympathetic light. I also found that some of the information given to the reader is only half present. This book gives the reader half of the narrative, keeping back the other half that would fully explain the situation and give the reader a full picture of Marie Antoinette. This feels like the book is trying to create more drama around Marie Antoinette through a pointed misrepresentation of the facts.
On another note I would have appreciated a bit more in the descriptions of the paintings and objects. I know what the device is called that is pictured on the page, but I would love to know what it was used for and how it was used. I also noticed that there are quite a few "detailed" views of paintings or objects shown elsewhere in the book. It was confusing to suddenly get only part of the picture without the larger version for comparison. Even a notation in the description on where to find the other version would have worked. I do appreciate the details, but it almost seems like they needed to fill more pages with pictures and just pulled from the ones they already were using.
I've read about half of the book so far and, while the graphics are amazing and I love seeing what Marie Antoinette saw at Versailles, the blatant misrepresentation of her as a person bothers me. Almost every block of text implies that she had a very manipulative and scheming agenda where other biographies portray her in a much more sympathetic light. I also found that some of the information given to the reader is only half present. This book gives the reader half of the narrative, keeping back the other half that would fully explain the situation and give the reader a full picture of Marie Antoinette. This feels like the book is trying to create more drama around Marie Antoinette through a pointed misrepresentation of the facts.
On another note I would have appreciated a bit more in the descriptions of the paintings and objects. I know what the device is called that is pictured on the page, but I would love to know what it was used for and how it was used. I also noticed that there are quite a few "detailed" views of paintings or objects shown elsewhere in the book. It was confusing to suddenly get only part of the picture without the larger version for comparison. Even a notation in the description on where to find the other version would have worked. I do appreciate the details, but it almost seems like they needed to fill more pages with pictures and just pulled from the ones they already were using.
January 5, 2021
This is a really beautiful large coffee-table book filled with photos, drawings, paintings, and a summary of MA's life. I've been fascinated by the French Revolution since I was introduced to it in high school when "A Tale of Two Cities" was required reading. Later I became very interested in MA. When we visited France, we went on every tour offered at Versailles, and we rode bicycles to the Queen's Hamlet and Petite Trianon. I was surprised but glad to hear the guides say she was a maligned scapegoat. We also visited the Conciergerie in Paris where she spent her final days. This is a very welcome addition to my collection of fine books. (FYI - I purchased the book through the Getty Museum in LA at half price with free shipping.)
December 7, 2018
Overall, the book has great pictures for art inspiration. The writing was just ok, there are better biographies out.
November 19, 2022
A beautifully illustrated coffee table book about Marie Antoinette. A nice primer/overview for those who don’t know much about her.
May 16, 2023
Je ne connaissais pas grand chose sur Marie-Antoinette, et cela faisait longtemps que ce livre m’intriguait.
J'ai beaucoup apprécié la beauté de ce documentaire, que ce soit avec cette superbe mise en page ou par les illustrations. J'ai été surprise à quel point ce livre se lisait vite, c'était vraiment captivant.
J'ai pu y apprendre beaucoup de choses, et c'était très agréable à lire.
Bref, une très bonne lecture :)
J'ai beaucoup apprécié la beauté de ce documentaire, que ce soit avec cette superbe mise en page ou par les illustrations. J'ai été surprise à quel point ce livre se lisait vite, c'était vraiment captivant.
J'ai pu y apprendre beaucoup de choses, et c'était très agréable à lire.
Bref, une très bonne lecture :)
February 16, 2025
The pictures are so crisp and good quality i love this biography on a iconic queen!!!
August 22, 2015
Un livre délicat et précieux à l'image de la reine de France la plus connue.
J'ai été séduite par ce livre grand format, dont les pages sont remplies de photos et de peintures. J'ai apprécié l'aspect intime du livre. Effectivement, par des photos des objets ayant appartenu à la reine, nous entrons dans ses petits appartements et il est d'autant plus émouvant d'apprendre à la connaître de cette manière. À la fois une biographie et un catalogue d'oeuvres ayant rapport à la souveraine, ces images nous rapproche de Marie-Antoinette.
Par contre, le texte est simplice, destiné au grand public. Quiconque connaît un peu Marie-Antoinette n'apprendra rien de nouveau sur elle, mais pourra redécouvrir son univers.
Encore une fois la collection entrecale la biographie de double-pages thématiques sur des aspects de la vie au XVIIIe, la mode, la danse, etc, ce qui est plus instructif que les pages biographiques.
Il constitue un bon ouvrage pour qui veut connaître la femme et la reine sans n'avoir de connaissances antérieures.
J'ai été séduite par ce livre grand format, dont les pages sont remplies de photos et de peintures. J'ai apprécié l'aspect intime du livre. Effectivement, par des photos des objets ayant appartenu à la reine, nous entrons dans ses petits appartements et il est d'autant plus émouvant d'apprendre à la connaître de cette manière. À la fois une biographie et un catalogue d'oeuvres ayant rapport à la souveraine, ces images nous rapproche de Marie-Antoinette.
Par contre, le texte est simplice, destiné au grand public. Quiconque connaît un peu Marie-Antoinette n'apprendra rien de nouveau sur elle, mais pourra redécouvrir son univers.
Encore une fois la collection entrecale la biographie de double-pages thématiques sur des aspects de la vie au XVIIIe, la mode, la danse, etc, ce qui est plus instructif que les pages biographiques.
Il constitue un bon ouvrage pour qui veut connaître la femme et la reine sans n'avoir de connaissances antérieures.
December 7, 2016
If you like history this is the book for you! It is perfect in every single way: entertaining, informative and includes a ton of beautiful photos!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews