Marie Antoinette's

Boucher worked with Maurice Jacques on several tapestries.  The two co-created this piece, which is part of a set including which also includes Jupiter and Callisto, Vertumnus and Pomona, Cupid and Psyche and Venus Rising from the Waves.  The set was given as a gift to Marie Antoinette's older brother Joseph II from her husband, Louis XVI in 1777.  In this image, they can be seen in the Alexander Room at Hofburg Palace.

The two artist had worked together on art before.  In this piece, Boucher is resopnsible for the scene of Aurora and Cephalus.  Aurora, who is in love with Cephalus can only stare at his mortal body from her cloud.  Unlike her, he is earthbound.

Outside of the scene, are decorative elements such as an elaborate frame, damask background, floral garlands draped about, candle stick holders and a vase.  Jacques is responsible for the decorative elements which are suppose to give the illusion of a decorative wall.  Once the tapestry is hung, it really brings something to the room, art, beauty and illusion!

To get an idea of color, click here for an image of the Cupid and Psyche tapestry.

In someways, Joseph was not very smooth, such as voicing his opinion on sensitive subjects.  On the matter of his little sister, Marie Antoinette, he held a variety of opinions. He had an opinion on her marriage, her behavior, her country, the state of her courts affairs, and Versailles etiquette.  Sometimes his opinions were shared with the wrong audiences because he did not always make the best judgment in who he was telling.

One instance that provoked Joseph to make a comment rich enough to make its way to this blog today occurred while visiting his sister at Versailles. Antoinette made plans for her brother to meet her in Paris, at the Italian opera.  Fun!

She wrote to him detailing the plan.  When the day came Joseph made his way there to meet up with her.  Unfortunatly, in a very last minute decision, for whatever reason, she decided to have him meet her at the French Opera instead!


As he was already at the Italian Opera, she had a messenger sent to there to let him know plans have changed and direct him where to go. Upon receiving the message, and surely he was quite befuddled (I mean to say, obviously annoyed) over the very last minute switch, he noted out-loud, “Your young Queen is very thoughtless, but, fortunately you French do not mind that.” Fair enough?