An exhibition of portraits of French queens has opened in Versailles

More than thirty women of the royal family and the French imperial family, who ever lived in the Grand Trianon Palace in Versailles, became the heroines of the exhibition Les Dames de Trianon, which opened yesterday in Paris.

The exhibition features more than thirty-six female portraits by famous European artists of the time. “Studying the role of women in history is of great importance even today,” said Beatrix Saule, director of the National Museum of the Palace of Versailles. The central figure of the exhibition is the woman who embodied the spirit of Trianon, Queen Maria Theresa of Austria (1638-1683), the wife of Emperor Napoleon III. In addition to portraits, you can also see the Queen’s personal belongings, presented to her by courtiers and the ruling dynasties of Europe. At the exhibition you can see images of other royal people and famous court ladies.

The Grand Trianon Palace, built at the end of the seventeenth century by King Louis XIV and located in the gardens of Versailles, was intended for relaxation and solitude of the royal family. The exhibition is located in sixteen rooms of the palace, where the authentic interior of that era is preserved. In addition, the presented portraits make it possible to assess the fashion trends of those years, clothes and hairstyles of court ladies. The exhibition will run until October 14th.

Anna Sidorova