An exhibition within an exhibition.
In the Belle Cheminée room at the Château de Fontainebleau, designed by Primaticcio, the eye is immediately drawn to sumptuous tapestries woven in Brussels in the 16th century.
These three imposing pieces, exceptionally brought together in the royal enclosure, give a first glimpse of the ambition of heritage curator Oriane Beaufils, in charge of creating the “Art of celebration at the Valois court” trail * .
Everything is magnificent in this hanging in wool, silk and gold thread, commissioned by Catherine de Medici and preserved in the Palazzo Pitti, which constitutes an invaluable testimony to the grandeur of France in the past.
Henri II's wife figures prominently there, proud to present to her guests the splendor of the ceremonies organized by her.
A true symbol of power.
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Every square inch captures attention.
Men and women in dazzling costumes appear among the musicians and dancers.
There is no shortage of ephemeral decorations of rare beauty.
Fascinating representations arise, such as this whale on the waters of the Adour in Bayonne or this battle on the pond of the Château de Fontainebleau.
An exceptional work that recalls to what extent the
“true residence of kings”
(Napoleon) was a place popular with lovers of shows and banquets.
“The Fontainebleau ballroom is the absolute example of the Renaissance ballroom,”
explains Oriane Beaufils.
One of eight Valois tapestries, 1582-1585.
Uffizi Gallery
The writings on the subject are legion.
“In this courtyard, we only take care of having a good time all day long with games, parties, with very beautiful masquerades that are always different”,
summed up the ambassador Gian Battista Gambara.
The celebrations are just beginning.
A hundred objects have been collected by Oriane Beaufils.
With the management of the premises (President Marie-Christine Labourdette and her predecessor Jean-François Hebert), the author of the book
La Tenture des Valois
(Lienart) saw things big.
Loans from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale in Florence, the Cité de la Musique, the Louvre... The visit is distinguished by the variety and richness of the lots, as well as by its positive (and historically rewarding) message in this time of war and pandemic.
Change of scenery guaranteed, in an atmosphere of coronation, baptism, wedding or carnival!
When François I disguised himself as a… shrimp
Each room has its own theme.
Make way for the “royal entries” at the opening of the exhibition.
A painting executed in 1564,
Reception of the Duke of Anjou by the Patriarch of Venice at San Nicolò di Lido,
ideally sets the scene in this section which evokes the overflowing imagination of artists to celebrate the sovereign.
Evidenced by the delicious sketches of triumphal arches or obelisks made in his honor.
Carefully filled vintage notebooks contain real little treasures.
Other superb drawings (Primatice, Rosso…), coming from Italy and immortalizing the decorum of the festivities, similarly project the visitor several centuries back by summoning his imagination.
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Do not doubt, above all, the personal investment of the monarchs during the balls!
Like François I, who did not hesitate to dress up as a shrimp or a bear.
Same fantasy on the side of the future Henri II, seen in the past in the form… of a scented water fountain.
A set of musical instruments, bearing a royal imprint, gives an additional cachet to this delightful part of the course.
Same concern for diversity and detail in the chapter devoted to war games, rich in armor from Charles IX and weapons of all kinds used for jousting.
Evocative paintings adorn the walls.
The whole seduces with its colorful tones, such as those used by an anonymous artist on an oil on canvas representing the Court at the time of the Valois.
Other surprises await the visitor under the impetus of the Disneyland teams!
Their mission: to revive Primaticcio's designs by creating two costumes from the Renaissance period.
An original and successful initiative, which required a whopping 1,126 hours of work.
The party was at this price.
* Château de Fontainebleau, until July 4.
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