Tea at Trianon: Gowns of Two Tsarinas

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Gowns of Two Tsarinas

Melanie has a post on the gowns of Empress Maria Feodorovna and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. I saw some of the gowns when they were displayed in Wilmington, DE. about twelve years ago.

Anonymous said...: What a gorgeous painting! YOu can just FEEL the silks, velvet and fur!

Beautiful cut work on that yellow gown. So 1800s. :); January 13, 2011 at 11:07:00 AM EST
Gabriela Delworth - Instructional Designer said...: Hello,

Love these gowns! Can you imaging wearing such fabulous pieces?

~ Gabriela ~; January 13, 2011 at 4:08:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Aren't they sumptuous, Georgette?

Yes, Gabriela, I CAN!; January 13, 2011 at 4:22:00 PM EST
The North Coast said...: The coronation robe she wears is the most beautiful I've ever seen. It's not deep purple, but appears to be a soft plum, my favorite color, and the silver ornamentation is really unusual and exceptional.

And the painting is incredible, with textures that are palpable, and beautiful colors.

The subject herself is very lucky in her looks, too. The painter must have enjoyed painting such a pretty subject in such luscious fabrids.; January 13, 2011 at 7:29:00 PM EST
Darryl Grant said...: Totally agree and in other photos, you don't see that faint violet color, but as many know it was Alexandra's favorite color and she was one of thevgreat beauties of her time.; August 24, 2022 at 6:02:00 PM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: Her Imperial Majesty was indeed one of the most beautiful women of her day and she loved mauve/lilac shades.; August 24, 2022 at 6:06:00 PM EDT