Marie Antoinette

Archive for June, 2008

Question: Jacques-Louis David: in service to art, or to self?

Jacques-Louis David is one of my favourite artists. The neoclassicist movement would be unthinkable without his memorable paintings. I particularly love his "Death of Marat", "Tennis Court Oath", and "Death of Socrates".

The man embodied many contradictions, something I can definitely relate to. A friend of Robespierre(an idol of mine), he pledged solidarity to the death; in his famous quote he promised Robespierre "If you take the hemlock, I shall, too." Of course, he survived Robespierre's fall from power, did not take hemlock, and was imprisoned for a time.

Released from prison, he aligned himself with Napoleon and his work became the quintessence of the First Empire style. For a man of revolution, a man who sketched Marie Antoinette on her way to execution, the embracing of a new royalty was quite a turnaround.

So I ask, was his service to his ideals(whatever those happened to be at the moment) or to himself?

Answer: Great question. It would appear to be a classic example of the question, "How far will a man go, to help out a friend who is in need?" Apparently, Jacques-Louis David was not willing, or able, to sacrifice his life for his friend Robespierre . I would argue that all "friends" are imperfect humans, and will always let you down sooner or later. The question that I would add is, "Did Robespierre ever forgive his friend, Jacques-Louis David, for letting him down, or did he want Jacques-Louis to lay down his life for him?" Even though a "true friend" should swear his life for the other, would it have benefited the friendship for both to die? Or was it better that one should live? I would have to argue the latter. I would argue that Jacques-Louis David had so much to offer the world with his art, that perhaps in the name of true friendship, Robespierre should have wanted Jacques-Louis to renounce his oath, and live for him. I for one am glad that Jacques-Louis lived, but it was truly a tragedy that it was at the expense of the oath to his dear friend. I cannot answer for the man. It was a difficult time to be alive. Perhaps he was no traitor at all. I myself would wish my friends to continue for me after my death, and to do the things and meet the duties that I would have had to do, if I would have lived on. I would give Jacques-Louis David the benefit of the doubt, and say that yes, he served both self, and perhaps his ideals as well.

marie antoinette la fine

Question: Marie Antoinette hair color?

I'm dressing up as Marie Antoinette for Halloween, but I'm having trouble deciding whether to work with my own hair (long and brunette) or a blond wig.

Every movie or costume I've seen portrays Marie Antoinette with white blond hair, but in paintings it seems her hair was brown and she just powdered it a lot, like they did at the time.

Examples:

http://74.52.28.50/~ablogto2/wp-content/...

http://www.antoinettescloset.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Marie...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MA-Le...

Does anyone know--actually know--what color her hair was? Serious answers, please.

Or…if her hair really was brown but everyone thinks it was blond, will it throw off my costume to go the brunette way? I'm not sure how much of a color difference it makes to powder your hair…but I hear baby powder works pretty well.

Answer: According to Joan Haslip's book, she had red-golden hair. It was the fashion, though, to powder it - "poudree". A grey powder was used later in the century.

http://www.leahmariebrown.net/html/hair_raising.htm

In the Portraits here, you can see how her hair changed, from the charming, white-powdered simple style to the more elaborate then wider grey-powdered style later.

http://www.marie-antoinette.org/Galleries/Galleries.html

I think baby powder would be fine for a one-off.