Fontainebleau : Portraits D'un Château

Exhibition at the Château de Fontainebleau, 22 October 2023 - 25 March 2024

The Château de Fontainebleau has been the subject of countless descriptions, drawings and engravings. Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, Israël Silvestre, Jacques Rigaud and Rodolphe Pfnor have immortalised the originality of its architecture and decor, and the richness of its gardens and fountains.

Both subject and object, the château has witnessed great historical events, from the baptism of Louis XIII to the abdication of Napoleon I. It also lived to the rhythm of a glittering court, enlivened by hunting parties, fireworks displays and theatrical performances.

This exhibition catalogue highlights the importance of drawing, its conventions and the uses to which the documents produced were put (palace management, cadastral delimitation, transformation or restoration projects, souvenirs, illustrations, etc.). 250 graphic works - drawings, watercolours, gouaches and prints - from the château's collections highlight the architecture, decor and gardens of the château over the centuries, creating a veritable portrait of the residence of kings.