David McAllister’s Sleeping Beauty – The Australian Ballet
David McAllister the Australian Ballet’s artistic director presents Russian choreographer Marius Petipa’s landmark fairy tale in three acts, The Sleeping Beauty
Louis XIV
Provence: Country Style Pt 3 – Tres Chic, Indiennes
Among the cargoes brought into Marseilles in Provence during the mid seventeenth century were desirable cotton prints from India, which captured the imagination
Anton Venoir Interiors – French Antiques for Fabulous Decor
For the collector, interior designer and architect looking for investment or significant pieces for contemporary interiors, French antiques do deserve attention
Apollo – The God Mortal Beauty Chased in Heaven and on Earth
Apollo was one of the favoured of the twelve Olympian Gods, about light and truth and meant to inspire us daily to be the very best we can all endeavour to be
Costume & Style – Fashion Reflects Culture and Growth Pt 2
The Cavalier, dashingly dressed, gained the confidence to make his mark upon the world. By the turn of the 18th century a change in social customs defined style
The Mirror – Mastering Reflection or Eye Catching Deception
Described as the ‘matrix of the symbolic’ the Mirror has accompanied the human quest to know and understand our own identity… who is the fairest of them all?
King Louis XIV and the Chateau of the Sun King at Versailles
Despite all the work Louis XIV was to complete at Versailles in his own time it was called le Chateau, which means a Gentleman’s seat never palace, as it became
Chinoiserie – Pavilions, Porcelains and Passionate Pursuits
By the 18th century in Europe and England all things Chinese assumed incredible proportions as fashionable society sought to transmit their ideas about the magical land of Cathay
Bulgari Art Award – The New Round Room by Michael Zavros
Dr Michael Brand, director of the Art Gallery of NSW, has unveiled one of Australia’s significant young realist painters Michael Zavros’ new work, The Round Room. which has entered the Gallery’s collection having won the inaugural Bulgari Art Award. Julie Ann Morrison, managing director, Bulgari Australia, said: ‘It is Bulgari’s…
French Blue Diamond – Heart of the Earth to Heartache & Hope
The Hope Diamond, aka the French Blue diamond’s journey through history has caused a great deal of heartache, and for some, seemingly very little hope at all
Muquets – Men of Good Birth
Under Louis XIII (1601-1643) in France economic progress grew and it became harder to distinguish a person’s rank. The different ranks in society were equally well dressed and everyone aspired to carrying a sword. A contemporary observed that Parisians no longer seemed able to live without ribbons or laces or,…
Gardener of Kings, King of Gardeners
The scale and magnificence of French garden design during Louis XIV’s reign was represented by his chateau at Versailles. It became the model for Europe, if not the whole world at that time, in all the arts. The gardens of Versailles with their parterres, pools, sculptures and groves formed a…
Flower Decor & Louis XIV
French Chef Francois Massialot was Cuisinier Royal at the court of Louis XIV (1638 – 1715). He set a standard for dining throughout Europe from 1698 when he used flowers to decorate the dessert remove following a great dinner. Other descriptions of flowers decorating the dessert at Versailles include one…
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV (1838 – 1715) was known for being dignified, gracious, exquisitely polite and never blamed his generals for a defeat. His reign 1661 – 1715 was of incomparable brilliance. French art and literature flourished and artisans, included the celebrated playwright Jean Baptiste Poquelin Moliére (1622-1673), dramatists Pierre Corneille (1606-84)…
le bon jardinier
The scale and magnificence of French garden design during the reign of Louis XIV (1638 – 1715) was represented by his chateau at Versailles becoming the model for Europe, if not the whole world at that time in all the arts. The gardens at Versailles with their parterres, pools, sculptures…