Versailles & The World

The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened the doors this week for the first temporary exhibition of 2022, it's called Versailles & The World.
I got a sneak peak before opening, and I must say I really enjoy this exhibition and its message, and I am very much looking forward to delivering tours in here this spring.

This exhibition is about history, discovery and exchanges - all of what took place at the Châteaux de Versailles during the 17th and 18th century. It is divided into three moments, and here in the first section, we get introduced to the palace. We learn all about how this palace very originally always was open, to everyone. One of the first paintings introduces the palace from the south side, the garden side:

I was very impressed by this huge model of the mythical staircase of Versailles. It doesn't exists anymore as it was destroyed at the request of Louis XV, but it used to be where the non-European ambassadors were welcomed and honored:

In the following room we get to make the acquaintance of some of the most famous foreign dignitaries that came to visit. For example this young prince from Cochinchina (present day Vietnam), who came to Versailles not even 8 years old.

Or these three ambassadors to Siam (present day Thailand), with their pointy hats and ceremonial attire:

In the second section of the exhibition a lot of the luxury products that now made their way to France and Versailles, such as precious stones, porcelain, lacquer, pearls, perfumes etc are displayed.
Here an engraving over the diamonds that the explorer Tavernier had bought in India, that were used for the coronation crown of Louis XV:

This is the private cabinet of Marie Leszczynska, wife of Louis XV, called the Chinese room. She was a rather good painter and decorated this room herself with the help of other artists. The panels are evoking Chinese fantasies, telling a story about the tea production, trade and popularity:

Parts of the Japanese lacquer collection of boxes that belonged to Marie-Antoinette. She exposed this collection in her Golden cabinet, the most prestigious room in her apartment.

The last part of the exhibition is talking about the importance of educating our young, and is dedicated to Versailles now looking outwards and exploring the world, in different ways. For example, it was of the outmost importance to have a high scientific policy, and the first Royal Science Academy was created in 1666, by Louis XIV.

Louis XIV wanted to be known as the most modern and forward-thinking sovereign in the world, and that included making sure his son got a broad education. This box contains games that were used to teach him geography in a fun way:

Louis XV was passionate about bothany, and had build new greenhouses and brought in more than 4000 exotic plants from all over the world. This portrait is of the very first pineapple that was harvested in France, a great event! This influenced the decorative arts and textiles.

Versailles was also filled with exotic animals. The Menagerie was the scientific ambition of Louis XIV, and he kept exotic, ferocious and prestigious animals here, making it known as the first Zoo.

This grand painting below is showing Louis XVI seated to the right, with his minister behind him, giving instructions to La Pérouse before his big expedition which was about to become the famous expedition of the Ancient Regime:

This was just a small taste of what this exhibition has to offer. Make sure you take the opportunity to come see these pieces and much more, be dazzled and impressed! It's on until June 4th.