Marie Antoinette's

Photo tour!

The Queen's bedroom at Versailles saw its fair share of lady occupants. The style of the furnishings rotated with the fashions, which were kept up for the ladies, naturally.  They could update the decor and commission works for the rooms as they wished.  Today it is left as it was when Marie Antoinette occupied the room. The Guard room is the only room that is in its 17th-century state.  This room was occupied by the Queen's guard (twelve body guards).

Dining room from Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire, 1742–48 Designed by John Sanderson (English, active from 1730, died 1774) Wood, plaster, and marble H. 20 ft. (6.09 m), L. 36 ft. (10.97 m), W. 24 ft. (7.32 m) Fletcher Fund, 1931 (32.53.1). The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

One of my favorite period rooms at The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the Dining room from Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire.  This room was designed mid-18th century, and walking through is really a transporting experience.  The details in the panels, stucco, and chimney-piece are beautiful. The lighting and decoration are thoughtfully done.  The wooden floors are original, and believed to be from trees from the owner's estate!

I found this excellent account of the wedding ceremony between Marie Antoinette and Louis-Auguste. This is not about the festivities, which were no doubt fun, but the actual ceremony that took place.

"The fireworks were less beautiful than had been hoped because the smoke obscured the general effect: but the illuminations, as well as the spectacle of the ball were of the greatest and most superb magnificence."

Mdm. du Deffand to M. Walpole


Younghusband, Helen Augusta Magniac. 1912. Marie-Antoinette: her early youth (1770-1774). London: Macmillan. 54.