Culture and History : Petit Trianon & Marie Antoinette
Tips for the Petite Trianon
“Il n’y a de nouveau que ce qui est oublié.
Only what is forgotten is new.”
I remember the first moment I saw this painting. It has found a little sunlit corner in the Petit Trianon at the château de Versailles, France. Above a small table, staring back at you is the Queen Marie Antoinette, holding the most breathtakingly exquisite rose. This alone is worth the trip to Versailles.
Be sure to set aside enough time to visit the hamlet and gardens next to the Petit Trianon. These spaces are by far my favorite when visiting the château de Versailles.
Rent a bike and explore the vast forest and parks. It's an excellent way to traverse the enormous spaces and quickly get to see the grounds of Versailles.
Le Brun - French Artist
A masterpiece
Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun is considered one of the most prominent female artists of the eighteenth century. Born in Paris in 1755, she demonstrated her artistic talent at an early age, and at the age of fifteen, she was admitted to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Her portraits of members of the French royal family, aristocrats, and celebrities were highly acclaimed and recognized for their exquisite beauty, technical skill, and emotional depth.
One of her most famous paintings is this portrait of Marie Antoinette holding a rose. The painting, completed in 1783, depicts the queen of France carrying a rose delicately in her hand, with her gaze directed towards the viewer. The portrait is considered a masterpiece and is one of the most iconic depictions of the French queen.
History & Culture
She was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1755 and was the fifteenth and second youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. She was married to King Louis XVI at the age of 14, and became Queen of France at the age of 19.
Despite her youth and beauty, Marie Antoinette was not well-liked by the French people and was seen as frivolous, aloof, and out of touch with the struggles of the common people.
Marie Antoinette's love of roses was well-known, and she was often depicted surrounded by the blooms in paintings and portraits. She was an avid gardener and loved spending time in the royal gardens, filled with roses of every color and variety. Her love of roses was said to have inspired the creation of several new flower varieties, including the "Marie Antoinette" rose, a soft pink color with a delicate fragrance.
Marie Antoinette's petites appartements were a series of private rooms in the Palace of Versailles, and they were known for their elegant decor and lush gardens. The gardens were filled with roses, and the rooms were decorated with rose-themed wallpaper, fabrics, and furnishings. These rooms were a testament to Marie Antoinette's love of roses and her desire to create a beautiful and luxurious environment for herself and her guests.
French History & Gardens
Marie Antoinette played a vital role in creating the French royal gardens and was instrumental in developing new techniques and styles in gardening. She worked closely with the chief gardener, André Le Nôtre, and was involved in designing many of the gardens, including the Grand Trianon and the Hameau de la Reine.
Her love of roses was reflected in the abundance of roses planted in these gardens, and the gardens became a symbol of her beauty, elegance, and love of nature.
Élisabeth Vigée-Le Brun was a prominent artist in the late 18th century who gained recognition for her exquisite portraits of members of the French royal family and other celebrities. One of her most notable achievements was her acceptance into the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture on May 31, 1793, along with her rival Adélaïde Labille-Guiard.
The portrait of Marie Antoinette with a rose was commissioned by the queen herself, a patron of the arts and a lover of beauty. She was impressed by Vigée Le Brun's talent and had previously commissioned several portraits. The rose was a symbol of the queen's beauty and femininity, and it was often used in paintings and iconography during the eighteenth century.
The portrait of Marie Antoinette with a rose significantly differed from the traditional portraits of the French royal family. In the past, royal family members were depicted in formal, static poses that emphasized their status and power.
However, Vigée Le Brun's portrait of Marie Antoinette was different. The queen was depicted in a natural, relaxed pose, and her expression conveyed a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. The portrait captured the queen's humanity and showed her as a woman rather than just a queen.
Vigée Le Brun's portrait of Marie Antoinette with a rose was also significant in style and technique. The painting is characterized by its delicate brushwork and luminous colors, which give the portrait a soft, ethereal quality. The use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, which makes the queen's face and figure stand out from the background.
Vigée Le Brun presented her work at the Salon for the first time, a highly anticipated event for artists of the time. Among the pieces she exhibited was a new portrait of the queen, Marie-Antoinette, wearing a "gaulle" or "blouse dress." This muslin dress, adapted to Parisian fashion by the renowned dressmaker Rose Bertin, was the queen's favorite attire during her stays at the Petit Trianon, away from the formalities of court life.
However, the visitors of the Salon were not impressed with the queen's attire in the portrait, as they believed it did not befit her royal rank. As a result, the painting was quickly withdrawn from the exhibition. Vigée Le Brun was undeterred by the criticism and promptly painted a second portrait of the queen in a classic blue-gray silk dress, an implicit show of support for the silk weavers of Lyon.
The second portrait repeated the pose of the first painting, with Marie-Antoinette holding a rose in her hand, but the change of dress significantly impacted the painting's reception. The presentation of the second portrait was a huge success, and several replicas of it were made, including this one that is now displayed at the château de Versailles.
The controversy surrounding Vigée Le Brun's first portrait of Marie-Antoinette reflects the social and political tensions of the time. France was on the brink of revolution, and the royal family were increasingly criticized for their extravagance and perceived lack of concern for the plight of the French people. Vigée Le Brun's portrayal of the queen in a simple muslin dress may have been an attempt to humanize her and distance her from criticism against the royal family.
Vigée Le Brun's portraits of Marie-Antoinette showcase her exceptional talent and technical skill as an artist. They also offer a glimpse into the turbulent social and political context of late 18th-century France, where even the choice of dress in a painting could generate controversy and comment.
As the French Revolution approached, the extravagance of Marie Antoinette and the French royal court became increasingly contentious, and her love of roses became a symbol of her excess and disconnection from the struggles of the republique. The French Revolution eventually led to the fall of the monarchy, and Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine in 1793.
Despite her downfall, Marie Antoinette remains a symbol of beauty, elegance, and love of life. Her love of roses continues to be associated with her in the annals of French history.
Versailles Tour Guide
April Tours in Paris
Hotel Pick-Up, 8 Hour Trip
Book Here!
For over 3 centuries, the château de Versailles and the splendor of its gardens have been renowned for their utmost extravagance, prestige, and scandal. Step back in time and experience the history and opulence of the Royal Palace with a guided tour by April Pett, followed by a waterfront lunch.
In the afternoon, enjoy a visit through the Royal Gardens and discover the breathtaking fountains and Grand Canal. And, of course, no trip to Versailles would be complete without a glimpse into the life of Marie Antoinette and her Peasant’s Village.
