L'art De La Fête À La Cour Des Valois

Exhibition at the Château de Fontainebleau, 8 April - 4 July 2022

During the Renaissance, the sumptuous festivities of the Valois kings left their mark on people's minds with their magnificence. The palaces of the Louvre, the Tuileries, Chenonceau and Fontainebleau were the setting for them. Designed for the entertainment of the court, for the dazzlement of its guests and for subtle diplomatic purposes, these festivities exalted a brilliant dynasty through tournaments, shows, masquerades, balls and feasts. The most famous artists of the time were involved in their preparations: Leonardo da Vinci, Primaticcio, Jean Goujon, but also Ronsard and the poets of the Pleiades, as well as the most talented musicians, actors and dancers.

This book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the festivities of the Renaissance in France, the drawings of the whimsical costumes that dressed the court, the gifts of price offered at the weddings, the table settings and the ephemeral or perennial decorations that presided over them.