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The House of Durfort
Originating from Guyenne, the House of Durfort was condensed into four branches by the time of Louis XIV: the first was headed by the Duc de Duras, the second by the Duc de Lorges, the third by the Duc...
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The Courtiers' Lodgings (III)
Louise Maclovie de Coëtquen, Duchesse de DurasLouise was housed on the first floor of the Aile du Midi; she was a neighbour to Monsieur Herault and the Marèchale de Berwick. The Duchesse de Duras left...
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The Scandalous Beauty of the Duchesse de Berry
The favoured daughter of the Regent, Philippe II d'Orléans, had been married to the third son of the Grand Dauphin as thus became the Duchesse de Berry. Marie Louise Élisabeth would soon prove herself...
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The Court at Sceaux
With the reign of Madame de Maintenon, came an era of unprecedented dullness at Versailles. The glorious fêtes were long passed and grand balls were reserved for weddings. Even the weekly, Appartement...
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The Syphilis of the Duc de Vendôme
Louis Joseph de Bourbon, Duc de Vendôme earned his reputation as a capable general to Louis XIV; at court, he enjoyed the privileges of being a duke and peer. However, he would suffer throughout most...
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Baby Bumps In Corsets: Maternity Wear in the 17th and 18th Century
The 18th century is almost synonymous with the dramatic fashions of the time; the elaborate gowns with tiny waists and huge panniers are well recognized silhouettes from the time. Yet, the tightly...
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The Colour Pink: Romantic or Innocent?
Fashionable colours rotate on a constant basis; some are firm fixtures while others are passing trends that disappear as soon as the craze for them has passed. In this wheel of colours, pink is one of...
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The Colour Green: A Natural Variety
Green was one of the more expensive and difficult colours to achieve. Being a combination of yellow and blue, it was necessary to use two vats for dyeing clothing. In the 1660's green was not a very...
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The Colour Yellow: Exotic Symbol of Wealth
China was one of the larger influence of yellow clothing in the 18th century. So-called "Nankeen"-yellow - originating in Nanjing - became fashionable; it was a paler version of yellow. During the 18th...
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The Colour Blue: Favoured by Royalty
The production of blue clothing in the 17th and 18th century was a remarkably political subject. Traditionally, European dyers had used woad to achieve a blue hue. France had established centers of...
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The House of La Trémoille
The family of La Trémoille descended from Poitou where they had been a firm part of the nobility since before the 11th century. Five centuries later, the family had reached the top of the French...
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Louis XVI: Awkward But Regal
The last king of Versailles could never boast of having inherited his grand-father's remarkably good looks. Whereas Louis XV had been generally thought to be the handsomest man at his own court, Louis...
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Worthy of a Queen: Marie Antoinette's Bridal Gifts
The wedding between the French Dauphin, Louis Auguste, and the Austrian arch-duchess, Marie Antoinette, was an immense event in the 1770's. On a political scale, it brought the hereditary enemies of...
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Film Fashion: Marie Antoinette (2006) - Madame du Barry Edition
One of the more well-known depictions of Marie Antoinette's life, this movie by Sophia Coppola is rich in delicate hues and extravagant details. In contrast to the titular character of the ill-fated...
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Film Fashion: Marie Antoinette (2006) - Marie Antoinette
The titular character - played by Kirsten Dunst - had over 60 costumes for this 2006-movie. The tones are ranging from the softest pastels to dark mourning, thus reflecting the dramatic journey of the...
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The King's Morbid Fascination
Kings, like everyone else, have their own preferments and fascinations. However, Louis XV had a particularly morbid fascination with a gloomy subject - death.The king's displayed a continued...
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The House of Villars
The family of Villars originated from the region of Lyonnais where the males of the family had long held positions as échevin (the equivalent of an English alderman). As such, they were considered as...
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Selling the Queen's Jewels: Marie Antoinette's Jewels Sold
Hosted by Sothesby's, the jewels belonging to the Bourbon-Parma family were sold in 2018. These included jewels that once adorned the Queen of Fashion herself - Marie Antoinette. But how did the...
View ArticleCabinets of Curiosities
Throughout history, royalty has had collections of "oddities". These would range from exotic stones to alleged mythical creatures. As the Age of Enlightenment spread through Europe, the interest for...
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Cabinet of Curiosities: Comte de Menars
Abel-François Poisson, Marquis de Menars was known primarily through his connection to his sister: Madame de Pompadour. Just like his sister, he was an avid collector and had a rather substantial...
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