The result of a partnership between the Centre des Monuments Nationaux and the Palace of Versailles, this exhibition traces the life of the Count of Artois, brother of Louis XVI and the future Charles X, through his residences, his artistic projects, and his princely passions. From the splendor of the Château de Maisons to his exile in 1789, it reveals the journey of a refined prince at the heart of the 18th century.

An immersive historical experience at the heart of the 18th century. The exhibition ‘The Count of Artois, Prince and Patron. The Youth of the Last King of France’ begins with a presentation of the Château de Maisons in the 18th century, then traces the prince’s life from his birth to his exile. His personality, his life, his patronage, and his taste are explored through a selection of masterpieces of great variety (graphic arts, paintings, works of art, sculptures, furniture, curiosities, books). The exhibition also highlights the prince’s interest in architecture, as he was the last owner of the Château de Maisons under the Ancien Régime.

Exceptional loans Sourced primarily from the collections of the Palace of Versailles, the exhibition also benefits from prestigious loans granted by the National Archives, the National Library of France, the Louvre Museum, the Mobilier National, the Château de Fontainebleau, the Carnavalet Museum, the Musée de l’Armée - Invalides, the municipal library of Versailles, the Fine Arts Museums of Amiens and Reims, as well as from private collections.