Category: Marie Antoinette

Centuries of Treasure Bindings: Books Adorned With Beauty

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is a popular adage that can be compellingly applied to many situations. However, its wisdom misses the mark in the context of treasure bindings. Treasure bindings, also known as jeweled bindings, are a type of bookbinding where covers are adorned with lavish materials which can include gems, silver,…


Film Review: ‘Chevalier’: Harrison Shines Despite Shoddy Filmmaking

PG-13 | 1h 47min | Drama, History, Music, Biography | 21 April 2023 (USA) There are few lesser-known historical figures in need of becoming the subject of a sprawling screen biographical epic than Joseph Bologne. However, “Chevalier” is neither sprawling nor is it an epic and is, in effect, the cinematic equivalent of a half-complete CliffsNotes study guide. Born in 1745 to…


Blooming Again: Marie Antoinette’s Private Garden Is Restored at the Palace of Versailles

At a certain time of year, American visitors ambling around the grounds of the Palace of Versailles can detect the familiar heady scent of the Virginia tulip tree—Marie Antoinette’s favorite tree.   Native to eastern and southern America, the Virginia tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), with its pale green or cheerful bright yellow cup-shaped blooms, along with…