An exhibition tracing the life of Marie Antoinette will open at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art on the 6th. The exhibition will focus on her fashion and lifestyle. Queen Marie, who married into the French Bourbon family from the House of Habsburg in Vienna at the age of 14 in the late 18th century, is said to be the only queen to bring her own tastes to the Palace of Versailles. Her beloved dresses and accessories, as well as her palate-pleasing confections, coffee, and bathing habits, were coveted by the aristocracy and created trends in France, where Rococo culture was at its peak. Marie is said to have employed her own personal stylist and spent an enormous amount of money on fashion annually, equivalent to 1 billion yen in modern Japanese yen. While her glamorous court life is said to have strained the royal family's finances, it is also said that she contributed to the development of the French economy by spreading the beauty of "Made in France" products such as silk, lace, ribbons, and perfume abroad.

It is said that she had around 170 dresses made to order every year, but due to the chaos of the Revolution, none of her dresses exist today. Therefore, for this exhibition, her dresses and hairstyles will be specially restored by Prelle, a tailor who has been a supplier to the royal family since that time, and a specialized atelier.

The exhibition will also travel to Okayama from September 11th.


【Event Information】
"The Story of Marie Antoinette" Exhibition
Venue: Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art
Address: 1-1-1 Wakihama Minamigishi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture (inside HAT Kobe)
Dates: July 6th to September 1st
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Admission: 1,300 yen for adults, 1,700 yen for tickets with a bonus original illustration by Ikeda Riyoko (purchased online only)
Closed: Mondays (open on July 15th, closed the following day, the 16th)