The Palace of Versailles Continues to Inspire

  • Jeff Koons
  • Contemporary artist and sculptor
  • French mode designer (1905-1957)
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From CR Fashion Book

The Palace of Versailles is a landmark of style and art history, and a testament to the French fine art de vivre. This former purple residence has long-inspired artists and designers with its opulent, aureate decor fix confronting sprawling, manicured gardens. Since the palace was built in 1634, it has had a strong connexion to the arts. Today, its museum holds more than than threescore,000 artworks across three centuries. Each year a distinguished contemporary artist exhibits at the celebrated site and new artworks are added to the permanent collection.

Sharing in the palace'due south appreciation of fine art, Château Mouton Rothschild-a major wine estate nearly Bordeaux-has launched its latest series of artist-designed vino labels. An almanac tradition since 1945, the labels are unique to specific vintages and take included a range of modernistic and contemporary masters: Picasso, Chagall, Dali, Miró, Bacon, and Warhol. This year'due south "Versailles Commemoration" series is a special initiative to benefit the restoration of Versailles. Created by 5 major artists, these limited-edition vino cases will be auctioned past Sotheby'due south in New York, London, and Hong Kong in April and May 2019.

Photo credit: www.deepix.com
Photo credit: world wide web.deepix.com
Photo credit: Deepix
Photo credit: Deepix

The artists this year-Bernar Venet, Jeff Koons, Anish Kapoor, Lee Ufan, and Giuseppe Penone-have all previously exhibited at the palace, personally connecting them to the project. "For the past ten years, the greatest gimmicky artists have engaged in a dialogue with the illustrious builders of Versailles," Versailles president Catherine Pégard explains to CR. "This presentation case, reminiscent of puzzle boxes holding the nigh precious or fabulous secrets, bears witness to this shared history."

Italian sculptor and painter Penone created the Mouton Rothschild 2005 label, showing the impress of a vine grower's fingers touching leaves, physically symbolizing their connection. Venet, a French graphic artist and sculptor, conceived the 2007 label with open steel lines to suggest chalices and bawdy vine stalks. British sculptor, painter, and visual artist Kapoor imagined the 2009 label with an elaborate design to express the vitality of plant life. American visual artist and painter Koons envisioned the 2010 label, offering a new take on a famed Pompeii fresco with added abstraction and vino vessel details. Korean painter, visual artist, and philosopher Ufan designed the 2013 label with paint that builds upon itself every bit a fine wine develops to its full potential.

Photo credit: Chateau de Versailles
Photograph credit: Chateau de Versailles

Much similar not bad art, fashion is securely intertwined with the history of Versailles. Since the earth'due south commencement dress codes were established under Louis XIV, clothing and style have been underpinnings of the palace. When French court designs morphed from ornate Bizarre to more than playful Rococo, these new looks spread from France beyond Europe's fashion capitals. For continental trends-from Madame de Montespan's "innocente" robe, Marie-Antoinette's extravagant pastel wigs, and the 1950s "neo-trianon" trend-Versailles was the go-to inspiration for designers.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

Contemporary stylists have looked to the museum itself besides as its manner history. Christian Dior was long-enamored with the palace'southward compages, interiors, and gardens. To celebrate the Firm of Dior's 60th anniversary and John Galliano's tenth year as creative manager, the designer presented grand, romantic looks for his Fall/Wintertime 2007 collection at the Versailles Orangerie. The bear witness was inspired past Impressionist and Mod painters, manner illustrators, and photographers. Karl Lagerfeld's 2013 Cruise collection for Chanel, also held at Versailles, unveiled crinoline dresses and brocade jackets on the runway of the château'southward gardens. In an artistic plough, Lagerfeld himself exhibited a collection of black-and-white photographs at the palace in the summer of 2008 titled "Versailles in the Shadow of the Sun."

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photograph credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images
Photograph credit: Getty Images

In 2017, Dior designer Victoire de Castellane created the "Dior à Versailles" loftier jewelry collection in tribute to unique details of the palace: crystal chandelier drops, ornamental curtain ties, and decorative bows adorning article of furniture. While Nicolas Ghesquière recalled the French court's embellished frock coats and chiffon gowns in his Spring/Summer 2018 collection for Louis Vuitton. The palace remains timeless and significant in both way and the arts. An indelible source of inspiration, Versailles continues to reveal itself in the styles, artistry, and reverence of the present moment.