New Week, Same Me: It's Marie Antoinette
Written from a lonely kitchen island in New England
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Presently I am in Boston, the stronghold of New England, the big brick and chilly city that houses my in-laws. Wemple and I are here for work and staying through Thanksgiving.
While I am here I am glad to say I have been actively treading the Art Apéritifs trail, connecting with incredible museum leaders (there have been a lot of pinch me moments) to continue creating interesting content for you all to enjoy here on 21st & 18th.
If you thought Art Apéritifs with John Marciari, the Morgan Library & Museum’s Chief Curator, was delectable ensure you are subscribed below to receive our upcoming interviews with museum curators and industry leaders.
There was this moment in middle school when I learned about reincarnation, and I was mystified (who wouldn’t be?).
Shortly thereafter I began studying the French Revolution in my 7th grade Social Studies class and remember, for the first time in my life, reading the name, ‘Marie Antoinette’. Even just reading the name, I was hooked. The way her name felt undulating on my tongue, the story, the heinous downfall and the clothes, the clothes! I needed to know more.
From that day in my twelfth year onward I had to know as much as possible about this ill fated, final queen of France, her enduring extra-excess persona and sky scraper blonde-Viennese hair. Perhaps it seems trite to be obsessed with Marie Antoinette, but in my opinion some of the best discussions and light bulb moments come from discussing the constantly-discussed topics of our contemporary times. Delving deeper into who they were and considering them in context.
When I was younger I felt an affinity so close to my girl MA I used to tell my mother, sister and friends that I was her in another life - now, you get the reference to reincarnation. While I have trepidation about putting such a statement in text, on
, for you all to re-read, I do feel an incredibly strong link to this Austrian Archduchess. Was that link formed by years of study and obsession? Likely. Is reincarnation a thing? We can discuss this further offline.Over the years, I have come to appreciate Marie Antoinette in fresh ways, like a dear friend who grows more complex with you over the years, she has created loads of rabbit holes for my discovery. Of these history vortexes, the most fulfilling, have been exploring women figures in her life. Specifically, her mother, Maria Theresa1 and official artist to Marie Antoinette, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun2.
These next few weeks at
are dedicated to Marie Antoinette with helpings of Maria Theresa and Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun - think of it like our very own 21st & 18th Thanksgiving feast, Marie is the fattened, pampered turkey, soon to be sacrificed (too morbid?) and Maria Theresa and Vigée Le Brun the lovely sides for which all guests actually race to the dinner table to enjoy.Before next week’s WIOW3 run down on Marie, Maria and Élisabeth, let us look ahead at the content coming your way from 21st & 18th over the next four weeks.
Over the next 3 weeks, we will be tackling Marie Antoinette in a classically
way, after getting to know our subject we will connect with Marie Antoinette through an object in Vintage Finds, emulate some bits - not the guillotine part - of her life through Antiquated Traditions (We Must Resuscitate) and interview an Expert on Marie Antoinette - as the author, I don’t count - in our final segment, Meet the Expert.Alongside the coming segments of Marie Antoinette, we will continue to serve up Art Apéritifs, where we interview curators from Museums and cultural institutions around the world. In October, we featured an interview with John Marciari, Chief Curator at the Morgan Library and Museum, and this month, we have the home court advantage with Derrick Cartwright, of the Timken Museum of Art in San Diego, CA.
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articles direct to your inbox and perhaps share this article with someone who, like me, is mad for Marie Antoinette.Until next week - cheers,
LLW
Did you know she was never crowned Empress of Austria and the Imperial lands they lorded over? She just claimed the title and was such a force, people called her by it (nuts!)
Vigée Le Brun’s story is one of empowerment and perseverance and, of course, talent. If you are not currently acquainted with her, email me at lauren@21stand18th.com and I’ll tell you where to start
WIOW stands for What I’m Obsessed With. This segment kicks off each theme Week at 21st & 18th