A LOUIS XV portrait hangs over Chinese porcelains at the chateau
The history of any family home has a gravitational pull -as a voyeurist historian myself, nothing could be more unearthly than the story of VAUX LE VICOMTE. In lieu of a trip to the chateau, an elegant new book A DAY AT CHATEAU DE VAUX LE VICOMTE is an unerring journey itself. Written by brothers and fifth generation members of the de Vogue family, Alexandre, Jean Charles, and Ascanio de Vogue- the book is beautifully boxed in a jewel-like slipcase, petit in presentation-yet monumental in content.
The book chronicles the history of the chateau and includes quotes from letters and documents in the archives. Vaux Le Vicomte rivaled Versailles-much to the King's dismay, setting off a series of events-worthy of cinema. Movies have been made at the chateau, and about it-yet nothing touches the historic reality of the storied chateau and Le Notre gardens.
"AT SIX IN THE EVENING OF AUGUST 17, FOUQUET WAS KING OF FRANCE; BY TWO IN THE MORNING , HE WAS NOTHING." Voltaire, Le Siecle de Louis XIV
The Salon of the Muses
LE BRUN'S Triumphant of Fidelity on the ceiling of the Salon of the Muses.
There is a restaurant at the chateau-apropos of the castle's 17th century celebrity chef VATEL-continuing its culinary exquisite reputation. Recipes from Countess de Vogue are included in the book.
In the formal apartments of FOUQUET, the chateau's creator, a bust of Le Brun-the decorator of VAUX le VICOMTE presides over a table worthy of Vatel.
I am unsure whether the book will go into my library or on an old table where I keep my jewelry. The book, like the chateau so "intermingle the Beauties of Art with those of Nature, and so industriously to divertise all the ornaments of so goodly a place." (on the chateau- Mlle, de Seudery, CLELIA, An Excellent New Romance.)
~ A DAY AT CHATEAU DE VAUX LE VICOMTE
By Alexandre de Vogue, Jean-Charles de Vogue, and Ascanio de Vogue, Flammarion, 2015, Photographs by Bruno Ehrs. All photographs used with permission by Flammarion, Rizzoli.
Have you seen VATEL...so magnifique! Filmed on location whisking one to the period, of course with Gerard Depardieu and Uma Thurman...intrigue, romance and beauty.
ReplyDeleteThe book arrived 3 says ago, so this post is very timely. Wasn't expecting it to be boxed in its own sleeve, which lends a tone of 'extra' to the production, and the photographs are certainly lovely...but the format of 5 and 7/8 inches by 9 inches is somewhat at odds with the splendour of the subject matter and many of the images beg to be larger (the Oval Salon a case in point). The house has a fascinating history, but it is conveyed in random fragments, and the text rambles rather than informs. Fortunately, I possess a catalogue sent me by a friend in France, along with other articles on Vaux Le Vicomte--essential to a fuller understanding of how it came to be.
ReplyDeleteGloriously presented Gaye. Thank you for this incredible beauty and I do want to know much more of this historical family and chateau.
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Karena
The Arts by Karena
we visited out last trip to Paris and it was really an amazing day. The chateau is amazing because it spans so much time parts of it are original to the 17th century while other rooms reflect MUCH more recent times. It's all a tad rough and shows its age, which is charming and refreshing in a country that restores things just a BIT TOO MUCH (sorry France but you do). The gardens and grounds are the most amazing part of the chateau though -we'll definitely be going back our next trip and this book is on my wishlist! I have 'a day at versailles' from this series of books and it's also pretty amazing - love book collections like this! Have you seen a day with marie antoinette? I wonder how that is?
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