Visitors To Versailles | French Art | Met Exhibitions

Versailles was one of the most open, or public, palaces in Europe. Created for Louis XIV, the Sun King. Famous for its beautiful gardens, its spectacular fountains... and of course its over-the-top interiors... which were freely available to the many visitors. And if you were lucky at all, you might even catch a glimpse of the king. It is an exhibition which is totally new, I think. Focused on many travel accounts of ordinary tourists... from not only all over Europe, but from far and wide. He found many ambassadors from the Middle East... and a young prince from what is today Vietnam. It is a large show with nearly 190 objects... from costume to arms and armour... including gifts that were brought by some of the diplomatic visitors to the French kings. A newly discovered Siamese cannon that was brought as a gift to Louis XIV. And gifts that were given by the French kings. There is a very rare surviving pendant with an enameled portrait of Louis XIV... surrounded by many diamonds. The show will have quite a nice variety of costumes. Some of these costumes are extremely rare. Very richly embroidered and with a lovely lace and so on. Benjamin Franklin, however, wore rather unadorned clothes... and could a striking figure in that sense. We are creating a very special audio experience... on which you will be hearing actors reading the various travel accounts. From the garden we drove to the royal menagerie. We saw many curiosities, birds and other animals from various countries. We hope this will transport our modern visitors to another time and place. I would like to think that many people will be able to relate to it... because we are all visitors. Visiting the Met is a bit like visiting a large palace full of wonderful artworks. In a way, that is not that different.