This gallery was complied as enrichment for a language arts student who will be researching the time period during and after the French Revolution and reading fiction novels written during that time frame.
Marie Leszczinska, queen of France, Carle Van Loo, 1747, From the collection of: Palace of Versailles
Pay attention to the opulence in these portraits. Look not only at the clothing, but also at the backgrounds.
Louis XV, king of France and Navarre, Jean-Baptiste Van Loo, Around 1723, From the collection of: Palace of Versailles
What objects are in the background? Why do you think these particular objects were used? Do you think these objects imply what was important to the monarchs?
Louis XVI, king of France and Navarre, wearing his grand royal costume, Antoine-François Callet, 1789, From the collection of: Palace of Versailles
This is Louis XVI who was eventually executed by Revolutionaries in 1793. Do you think his execution was deserved?
Marie-Antoinette with the Rose, Louise Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, 1783, From the collection of: Palace of Versailles
Marie Antoinette was more infamous than her husband. She is often attributed as saying "Let them eat cake" referring to the poor. Do some research. Did Marie say this? What was the context?
Queen Marie Antoinette of France and two of her Children Walking in The Park of Trianon, Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller, 1785, From the collection of: Nationalmuseum Sweden
In The Scarlet Pimpernel movie, one of the characters is the Dauphin (Prince). Which of her children is this? Did this event actually take place?
Protection granted to the Fine Arts, Charles Le Brun, 1681 - 1684, From the collection of: Palace of Versailles
The aristocracy enjoyed exquisite, opulent artwork all around them. If you were a peasant at the time, how would you respond to the vast chasm that existed between the aristocracy and the poor?
Equestrian statue of Louis XIV transformed into Marcus Curtius, François Girardon and Bernini said Le Bernin, 1671 - 1671, From the collection of: Palace of Versailles
This was created in the 1600's for Louis XIV. How long do you think the French aristocracy reveled in opulence before the people began to revolt?
This video shows the grounds of the palace of Versailles. Pay close attention to what additions were made and when they were made.
Portrait of a revolutionary, François Sablet, (1794), From the collection of: National Gallery of Victoria
This guy looks a little different from the portraits of the monarchy. Why do you think he was worthy of a portrait in the first place? He isn't even attributed with a name!
Marat Assassinated, Jacques-Louis David, 1793, From the collection of: Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
Read this painting's details. It's a very well-known painting even though it's a bit gruesome. Why would the French prefer a dead guy in the bathtub over the gorgeously-painted artwork of the king?
(Main View), From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
Again we have a portrait without attributing a name to the person painted. Why is it important?
Demolition of the Château of Meudon, Hubert Robert, 1806, From the collection of: The J. Paul Getty Museum
This chateau (palace-type home of a member of the aristocracy) fell into disrepair and was ransacked around the 1800's. Why weren't the French concerned about preserving their history?
Bonaparte Crossing the Grand Saint-Bernard Pass, Jacques Louis David, 19th century, From the collection of: Palace of Versailles
Ah, Napoleon. He's a whole new ball game. What role did he play in the history of post-Revolution France?
Credits: All media
This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
