Visitors to Versailles: from Louis XIV to the French revolution

Abstract

Based on contemporary documents and works of art, the book explores the experiences of visitors to the palace and grounds of Versailles when it was the seat of the French monarchy, methods of transportation, codes of dress and etiquette, precious diplomatic gifts, royal audiences, and tours of the buildings and gardens.

Contents

Introduction -- Incomparable Versailles / Daniëlle Kisluk-Grosheide and Bertrand Rondot -- Going to Versailles / Mathieu da Vinha -- Exchanging Looks: Codes of Dress at Versailles / Pascale Gorguet-Ballesteros -- Magnificent Display: European Ambassadorial Visitors / Helen Jacobsen -- Special Embassies and Overseas Visitors / Meredith Martin -- "Preśents du Roy": Official Gifts from the French Court / Corinne Thépaut-Cabasset -- Incognito in Versailles: Or, How Not to Travel as a King / Volker Barth -- Grand Tourists: Noble Visitors to the Court of the French King / Jean Boutier -- Visitors' Guidebooks and Engravings / Elisabeth Maisonnier -- The Americans / Paul Staiti -- Notes to the Essays -- Works in the Exhibition.