Versailles

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art, art history, France, information, Marie Antoinette, Mississippi University for Women, MUW, time travel, time travelers, Versailles

Marie Antoinette en Chemise by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette was the height of fashion in her time, always having new clothes, shoes, pomade, and rouge. At first she was very popular with the French subjects but eventually started being disliked. She was not really French but Austrian and had married the Dauphin Louis XVI. She then became Queen when Louis ascended the throne. The portrait by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun of Marie Antoinette in a muslin dress was pretty controversial because many though it was improper for a queen to wear such clothing. Marie Antoinette also took part in amateur plays and musicals, so she was a big fan of the arts. There are many different portraits of her and her family.

The French Revolution has broken out, and angry revolutionaries are about to storm the palace. Our travelers get out just in time. They head south to Italy, the ultimate destination for Grand Tourists.