Fontainebleau Exhibition on Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI Unveils Final Splendors of the Ancien Régime
From October 11, 2026, to January 25, 2027, the exhibition titled "Marie-Antoinette et Louis XVI à Fontainebleau Splendeurs et douceur de vivre" will take place at the Château de Fontainebleau, curated by Marie-Christine Labourdette. This event will explore the visits of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette from 1774 to 1786, featuring more than 120 pieces, such as the boudoir Turc (1777) and boudoir d'Argent (1786). The exhibition emphasizes Fontainebleau's significance as both a leisure destination and a center of governance. Highlights include Félix Lecomte's bust of Marie-Antoinette from 1783, Louis-Auguste Brun's hunting painting of her, a Sèvres porcelain service from approximately 1763, and Joseph Siffred Duplessis's portrait of Louis XVI.
Key facts
- Exhibition runs from October 11, 2026, to January 25, 2027, at the Château de Fontainebleau.
- Title: 'Marie-Antoinette et Louis XVI à Fontainebleau Splendeurs et douceur de vivre'.
- Over 120 works are featured, covering the seven royal visits between 1774 and 1786.
- Marie-Christine Labourdette, president of the establishment, anchored 2026 around this theme.
- Highlights include the boudoir Turc (1777), boudoir d'Argent (1786), and grand Cabinet de la Reine.
- The exhibition contrasts Fontainebleau's intimate royal life with its role as a center of power.
- Notable works: Félix Lecomte's bust of Marie-Antoinette (1783), Louis-Auguste Brun's hunting scene (1783), Sèvres service (c. 1763), Duplessis's portrait of Louis XVI.
- The exhibition aims to present a nuanced view of the royal couple beyond popular caricature.
Entities
Artists
- Marie-Antoinette
- Louis XVI
- Félix Lecomte
- Louis-Auguste Brun
- Joseph Siffred Duplessis
- Jean-Baptiste Oudry
- Nicolas-Pierre Pithou
- W. S. Van Dyke
- Benoît Jacquot
- Sofia Coppola
Institutions
- Château de Fontainebleau
- Château de Versailles
- Connaissance des Arts
- Manufacture de Sèvres
- GrandPalaisRmn
Locations
- Fontainebleau
- France
- Paris
- Palais Royal
- Conciergerie
- Place Charles de Gaulle, 77300 Fontainebleau