Marie Antoinette's

If you have ever wanted to step back in time and visit 18th century France at its best, now is your chance.  The Getty is hosting an exhibition called Paris: Life & Luxury. Life & Luxury is all about the insane impact the French culture had on the rest of the world; the exhibition sets out to prove why that was.  The exhibition features pieces from 18th century France, and the timeline set up is what really transports the visitor.

As you pass through the exhibition, you walk through a day essentially, of an 18th century wealthy Parisian.  You are surrounded by all the little splendors and necessities needed for the day.  There will be furniture, art, architectural fittings, instruments and more.

"The exhibition will be a rich and deep sensory experience, engaging the viewer's initial attention with the compelling visual appeal of superlative and virtuoso works of art. From this breadth and diversity, visitors will learn generally about the contributions of the French, and in particular the Parisian, to the visual and performing arts, language, literature, history, science, and even culinary arts during this time period—in short, about their major contribution to the humanities at large."

The items come from collections around the world, and many from private collections.  This is your chance to see a really wonderful grouping of items together for the first time, and all from our favorite century!

The exhibition is travelling, and will only be on view for limited times.

• J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles: 26 April - 27 August 2011
• Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: 18 September - 10 December 2011

 Do you think you will go? We will want all the details from those who do!

If you cannot make it to the show, you can now pre-order the exhibitions accompanying book, Paris: Life & Luxury in the Eighteenth Century.  The book discusses aspects from the show and of course, life in 18th century France.  Some topics of interest are 18th century fashion, the latest in technology, ritual of the morning toilette, and my favorite: architecture for privacy! Did I mention it features many wonderful full color images of the artifacts from the show?