Cathy's Art Diary

Excellent exhibition at the Science Museum looking at scientific discovery at the Court of Versailles. This was a clearly described show, cleverly laid out and with some stunning objects and paintings. It’s not a period I’ve ever studied but I am increasingly drawn to it. From realising that the three Louis’s of the period ruled for 149 years I was hooked. The show was full of intriguing stories and people and lead to a lot of Googling, both in the show to check links my brain was making and since. I give you Antoine-Augustin Parmentier who argued that potatoes were the answer to famines caused by bread shortages and declared them edible in 1772 or Madame de Genlis, tutor to the royal children who commissioned this model of a chemistry lab. Throw in a stuffed Rhinoceros killed in the Revolution, some wonderful paintings, including a portrait of the first pineapple grown in France, and the knife used to operate on the kings anal fissure, then there was something for everyone! C...

Useful, clear online lecture from the Churches Conservation Trust looking at the art collecting of Louis XIV. I don’t know much about this period beyond what I learnt watching the TV drama “Versailles” which I loved. It was all about the hair! Barbara Lasic, from the Sotheby’s Institute, took us thought the expansion of the palace concentrating on the decoration of each new set of rooms by Charles le Brun. She then outlined how the Royal Collection had developed to this point starting with pieces acquired by Francis I and took us through various collections which were left to Louis and which he acquired. I was fascinated by a section on craftsmen and designers who were encouraged by Louis.