Marie Antoinette's

If you have ever wanted to step back in time and visit 18th century France at its best, now is your chance.  The Getty is hosting an exhibition called Paris: Life & Luxury. Life & Luxury is all about the insane impact the French culture had on the rest of the world; the exhibition sets out to prove why that was.  The exhibition features pieces from 18th century France, and the timeline set up is what really transports the visitor.

As you pass through the exhibition, you walk through a day essentially, of an 18th century wealthy Parisian.  You are surrounded by all the little splendors and necessities needed for the day.  There will be furniture, art, architectural fittings, instruments and more.

"The exhibition will be a rich and deep sensory experience, engaging the viewer's initial attention with the compelling visual appeal of superlative and virtuoso works of art. From this breadth and diversity, visitors will learn generally about the contributions of the French, and in particular the Parisian, to the visual and performing arts, language, literature, history, science, and even culinary arts during this time period—in short, about their major contribution to the humanities at large."

The items come from collections around the world, and many from private collections.  This is your chance to see a really wonderful grouping of items together for the first time, and all from our favorite century!

The exhibition is travelling, and will only be on view for limited times.

• J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles: 26 April - 27 August 2011
• Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: 18 September - 10 December 2011

 Do you think you will go? We will want all the details from those who do!

If you cannot make it to the show, you can now pre-order the exhibitions accompanying book, Paris: Life & Luxury in the Eighteenth Century.  The book discusses aspects from the show and of course, life in 18th century France.  Some topics of interest are 18th century fashion, the latest in technology, ritual of the morning toilette, and my favorite: architecture for privacy! Did I mention it features many wonderful full color images of the artifacts from the show?

It is fun to think about the connections between Perez Hilton's posts about Lady Gaga and a paragraph man's description of the Duchess of Devonshire's latest ridiculous fashion triumph.  Naturally, when we heard of Robert Darnton's approaching lecture on the topic, Heather and I were sure to attend!  The whole lecture did not take this path, however, we steered into a more bibliophile tone of discussion: the genetic make up of the publicationsᶦ (blogs and scandalous publications of the 18th century).

The eighteenth century publication which related all the personal details you might want to know about a celebrity could have been published as a 'Vie Privee'.   An example Darnton used was Vie Privee De Louis XV; a four set volume published in 1781 as a biography of the late king.

The biography was actually filled with anecdotes of a scandalous nature, it describes the private life of the king.  These anecdotes were supposed to be true and previously undisclosed facts.  The volumes would be read, the content absorbed, and the information shared amongst others.  Could the comparison be made about picking up this set of volumes in the eighteenth century and subscribing to your favorite gossip blogs and/or saving a search about 'Paris Hilton'?  Maybe.  Back to the anecdotes!

So the anecdotes are the little tidbits of gossip.  Here is one:

"He [Duke of Orléans] deplored her death rather as a lover in despair than as an afflicted father."

This small piece of scandalous information may have been collected around town.  Perhaps it was scribbled down on a piece of paper, and later made its way into a pamphlet of gossip.  When the author of the Vie Privee sat down and began his biography, his sources for many of these data-sized facts came from the previous gossips.  He pulled information from various sources and like brickwork, laid them into each volume, one bit after another.  I think he had enough style to ease transitions and make an easily readable work.  But essentially, his gathering of the data, and compiling it into a format French readers were used to was all they needed to understand the content.

Darnton discussed the fact that there were various levels of readers.  Those whom where sophisticated enough could process the information presented in one of these volumes and deem its weight and truth.  Some of the readership was so intelligent on the subject they could put the facts into the context of which they were written, and figure out what member of court could have come up with such a fact and what their motive would have been.  Others took the facts presented in each volume at face value, and the rumors carried on to entertain many.

Perhaps historical gossip blogs are the modern hybrid of these vehicles and methods of sharing such delicate and juicy information!

If you are interested in Darnton's study of gossip in the 18th century I recommend his recent book: "The Devil in the Holy Water or the Art of Slander from Louis XIV to Napoleon"
Read my review here.

ᶦ The idea of DNA of these gossip filled books offered by a commenter at the lecture.

The duchesse de Polignac was popular for her unpopularity during the French Revolution.  The name Polignac became a word interchangeable with 'hate,' as her close relationship with Marie Antoinette made for ample stories of the worst types; her reputation suffered daily.  The family was not always hated, and indeed would not always be!This post will touch on some of the 'highlights,'' if y

The Polignac's were a noble born family, but they were not very well off and were really provincial noblesse. They claimed their family dated back to the fifth century, but between the fifth and the eighteenth there were few members who could be coined remarkable.

Not until the eleventh century does a Polignac claim family relations.  This lone Polignac began the tracing of the family tree.  Their claim to nobility traced back to Caius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius also known as Saint Apollinaris, both a man of the state and a poet.  Sidonius married the daughter of Roman Emperor Avitus, the union was advantageous for Gaul-Roman relations.  He also became a senator of Rome, and bishop of Avernum. All his accomplishments were later topped by his becoming a Saint! Although the Apollinaris name dates to the 5th century, the family tree is a little fuzzy from there.

The 11th century Polignac participated in the First Crusade and retired in Vellay.  During the sixteenth century, since the court of Francois I, the later mistress of Henry II, Diane de Poitiers, had shown favor on the family.  Her influence on the family had a positive effect and indebted to her, a tradition was born; to name all daughters Diane.

The name was not commonly known again until the Abbe Melchoir who would become the Cardinal de Polignac.  His fortunes began early when he was sent to Paris for his education.  While there the Cardinal de Bouillon noticed the bright boy and had him accompany him as a secretary to Rome.  While there his personality beamed and he made many friends in high places.   His work in Rome caught the attention of Louis XIV.  One of the high moments of the abbe's life was when he helped persuade the King to sign the Treaty of Utrecht.  He became Cardinal de Polignac on the recommendation from the King of England.

Possibly Diane de Polignac

This Cardinal had a fine taste for art, was an accomplished writer, and spoke fluently in several languages.  He was worldly and hospitable and generous.  The fortunes of the Cardinal de Polignac were passed down the family to a nephew, whose daughter Diane secured the post of lady in waiting to the Comtesse d'Artois.  Her lively spirit and easy going personality won over the court, her good conversation and wit made up for a lack of beauty.  So popular she became, that she received the title of cannoness and a substantial income with it.

Diane's younger brother, Jules, remained at the family home in the country.  He was set up for a marriage of convenience with Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron.  The marriage did not do either family any favour as they were both old nobility and poor nobility.  After she secured a friendship with Marie Antoinette did her lot improve dramatically. Her husband Jules and herself were given the title of duc and duchesse de Polignac. Her sister in Law Diane also reaped benefits from the friendship, as the King made her Comtesse and appointed her head of the household of Madame Elizabeth.

In the news today Prince Sixte-Henri de Bourbon (you may know him as Louis XIV's heir) has moved forward to sue Versailles.  All the trouble has been stirred over the recent shows held at the palace which feature modern artists.  The current show that is causing a stir is that of Takashi Murakami, which opened September 12.  The Prince heads the group Coordination de la Défense de Versailles, and the lawsuit is targeted at the exhibition coordinators. 

"In the suit, the royalists allege that the château of Versailles is the intellectual property of Louis XIV and his descendants and that the display of Murakami's artwork infringes on their rights."

It will be interesting to see the outcome of this case!  Have you been to Versailles to see any of the modern shows hosted there?  The previous show featured work by Jeff Koons.