Model: Me

Photographer: [link]

Theme: A tribute to the 1700's the Queen Marie-Antoinette - more so...in mistress mode

Why?: This shoot was done because, increasingly it's hard to find ORGINAL shoot ideas. Other people have done the 1700s twist, but its very rare. I call this costume Marie, after... well - let me post a little bit of info on Queen Marie-Antoinette.

- Queen Marie-Antoinette -
An Austrian Princess
Marie-Antoinette of Hapsburg-Lorraine (1755-1793) was the daughter of the all-powerful Maria Theresa who reigned in Vienna. France and Austria having settled their differences seven years earlier, in 1770 the heir to the French throne, Louis XV's grandson, married the Austrian archduchess, sealing an alliance that certain people still felt was unnatural. The bride was fifteen years old, the groom sixteen. Their marriage spurred the construction of the Opera, where the wedding festivities were held.

Louis XVI
At the death of Louis XV in 1774, the new king and queen exclaimed, 'Protect us, Lord, for we reign too young.' Louis XVI (1754-1793) was not only young, he was unprepared to govern; educational efforts had focused on his elder brother, who died prematurely. The new monarch's natural qualities piety, loyalty, sense of duty, curiosity and interest in technology were not the ones required of a king. And his lack of personal presence was in sharp contrast to the majesty of his predecessors! His love for his people (who reciprocated it) could not compensate for his total lack of decisiveness, which proved fatal for the monarchy.

The Queen of France
As soon as she arrived at the court of France, Marie-Antoinette occupied the Queen's Suite, where she had to observe the obligations imposed on a French queen levee, dressing, audiences, public repasts, and so on. A queen's primary obligation, of course, was to provide a dynastic heir. That is why eleven years of waiting for the birth of the first Dauphin (1781-1789), combined with the queen's overly public friendships and youthful heedlessness led to ill will which never abated even when, later, she devoted most of her time to raising her four children Madame Royale, the first Dauphin, another daughter who died in infancy, and the future Louis XVII (1785-1795).

Minister of Court Revels
Marie-Antoinette has been criticized for her excessive penchant for festivities, yet it was Louis XVI who officially charged her with entertaining the court. Her efforts made a real impact: grand balls were held once again, the number of theatres grew, and there was a radical change in both musical and theatrical repertoires (which welcomed foreigners too many foreigners!). The queen, resolutely modern and open to change, favoured composers like Gluck, Piccini, Salieri, Sacchini, and others.

'Friends Come First'
Hoping to recreate at Versailles her earlier lifestyle at Schönbrunn more relaxed, among family and friends Marie-Antoinette tended to forget that she was queen of France. She retreated too often with her entourage to her cabinets, the Petit Trianon, or the Hamlet. She even dared to put on Beaumarchais's The Marriage of Figaro, a play censored by the king, in her own little theatre. By surrounding herself with a few favourites, Marie-Antoinette cut herself off from the court, whose backing she would lack during the crucial moments of the French Revolution.

THANKS! - Daily Favorite for Photographery Catagory Dec, 8th 2004 - THANK YOU EVERYONE!