Versailles - Historic Talks

From 1682 to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789, the palace at Versailles was the main residence of the French monarchy. It was the envy of all kings and princes and had been erected by the mighty Louis XIV, the Sun King. The King expanded a little hunting pavilion from the 1660s into one of the world’s most impressive and opulent royal residences.

The power and prestige of the sovereign was reflected in his residence and Versailles thus became an image of France’s power and capacities. The palace appeared as a gilt showcase for the art industry and acted as a sublime frame for the monarchy.

The lecture will follow the fascinating and intriguing construction of the palace. Focus will be on the architecture and art history with examples taken from ostentatious interiors and priceless pieces of furniture. The park and the Trianon pleasure pavilions will be presented and the lecture brings forward the history of this iconographic palace till today.

The end of the lecture will discuss the role of Versailles as one of the most visited sights of France and its importance as the royal palace par excellence will be discussed.

The lecture can be presented in English, French or Danish and is assisted by a Power Point presentation

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The French nobility has led a far more turbulent existence than the Danish one. Around 1789 the French nobility appeared as the big scapegoat and reason for the uneven society of the country and had to pay with its life. However, despite the guillotine and a juridical dissolution of the nobility, the class did not disappear. Not even a kaleidoscopic pattern of changing political conditions under different following kingdoms, empires, and republics has been able to extinguish the nobility and its way of life.

According to the French constitution, you are “ – born even without social advantages and differences.” In the Republic of France, one will still meet a very present nobility. A class embodied by princes, dukes, marquises, counts, viscounts and barons with their respective wives.

The Danish nobility has led an existence far less dramatic and it survived the Constitution of 1849 as a class. The number and system of titles is less complicated in Denmark and only two different titles exist, count and baron.

The lecture will discuss what can be defined as noble identity and the anachronistic nature around the class will be presented. Are there similarities between the conditions in France today and the time before 1789? Are there parallels between the two classes in France and in Denmark? The nobility will be made topical and it will be discussed how the nobility thrives in modern societies of today in both countries.

The lecture can be presented in English, French or Danish and is assisted by a Power Point presentation

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The Oyster Luncheon, J. F. de Troy - Historic Talks

Necklace of brilliants - Historic Talks

The Danish Crown Jewels on show in the Treasury at Rosenborg Castle form the most spectacular collection of jewelry in the kingdom. For the last 250 years they have been at the disposal for the sovereign. It is still that way today.

The Crown Jewels bring the spectator – and possibly the bearer – into a world of fascination and history.

Since the renaissance era the Danish queens have been beacons of fashion and wealth and sparkled with some of the most magnificent jewelry imaginable. Thus the queens signaled wealth and power. In 1746, the royal collection was formalized. The collection got the status it still has today. The collection became an inseparable unity formed by an outstanding collection of gemstones and jewelry, the Crown Jewels.

The lecture will bring the fascinating history of the Crown Jewels to live, present their use and compare the collection with similar collections abroad.

The lecture can be presented in English, French or Danish and is assisted by a Power Point presentation

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Marie-Antoinette is a historical personality whose name most people know. We have an idea about whom she was. We know how her life ended dramatically.

But who was this woman really? Who was this innocent child who was sacrificed for her country and the wish of an alliance between the Austrian empire and the kingdom of France? Who was this teenager arch-duchess? Crownprincess? Dauphine of France? Queen? Queen of fashion, wife and mother? Who was this trendsetter who in her lifetime and in an unappreciative environment was a quite modern woman?

The lecture will follow the imperial infant Maria Antonia from her birth in Vienna to her dramatic death in Paris as the deposed queen Marie-Antoinette.

The lecture can be presented in English, French or Danish and is assisted by a Power Point presentation

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Marie-Antoinette with a rose - Historic Talks

Table setting - Historic Talks

The dining table of the sovereign was a display box of wealth and art historical refinement. The table became a manifesto of the wealth of the king, his hospitality and good health through an extravagant table setting.

The setting was composed by a series of very prestigious objects. These were most often made in priceless materials and of exceptional execution and quality.

The lecture will follow the development of the royal dining table from relative simplicity in the 1600s till the strongly formalized and ostentatious table setting of the 1700s.

Different gastronomical features will be presented and parallels will be made with the dining table of today.

The lecture can be presented in English, French or Danish and is assisted by a Power Point presentation

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From the middle of the 17th century and till the French Revolution in 1789, the French monarchy had its main residence at Versailles. Next to Versailles there was furthermore an entire range of bigger and smaller palaces which the sovereign used depending on his humour and errand whether it was business, love or hunting.

The lecture will move about on Versailles, Fontainebleau, Compiègne, Rambouillet and Saint-Cloud. A number of less significant but still extravagant smaller palaces will also be presented.

These gilded surroundings framed the French monarchy in a most sublime way. The palaces each reflected the refinement and power of the sovereign and played a fundamental role in the maintenance of the prestige of the monarchy.

The lecture can be presented in English, French or Danish and is assisted by a Power Point presentation

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Fontainebleau, Cour du Cheval Blanc - Historic Talks

Castle Howard, garden facade - Historic Talks

Stately homes and country houses form an almost institutionalized concept in England. The country has an incredible cultural heritage made up by historic homes and houses.

England has been saved from devastating warfare and other disasters and all around the country you find one magnificent country house after the other.

The lecture will move around in England and present a series of Stately Homes, present the history of the house, its collections and the family who owns it. The lecture brings an image of an illustrious past and world of yesterday, but fully existing today. Furthermore it is a presentation of unrivalled magnificence as almost only England can present on a global scale.

The lecture can be presented in English, French or Danish and is assisted by a Power Point presentation

Contact for price and order

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