A ball in the Grand Trianon and a picnic in Marie Antoinette’s gardens held by the American Friends of Versailles helped raise money for the Palace of Versailles. On June 15, after a reception in the Hall of Mirrors and a tour of the queen’s apartments, the group proceeded to a reception within the colonnade of the Grand Trianon followed by a formal seated dinner.
Following the meal, guests including Ambassador to France Charles Rivkin danced on the colonnade before a spectacular display of fireworks.
The following Monday the group returned for a mid-day picnic catered by Le Notre. The meal included individual toile lined baskets of sandwiches and salads followed by a grand dessert buffet set up in the charming Pavilion Francais. Guests were given a guided tour of the queen’s Petit Trianon and a chance to see the changing of scenery in the queen’s theater where ropes manipulated by hand transformed the on-stage setting from a peasant’s kitchen to a forest scene.
Besides the events at Versailles, the American Friends visited the elegant Chateau de Courances walking to courances and during the lunch buffet dropped food to hungry fish in the moat below the dining room. Receptions hosted by designer Juan-Pablo Molyneux and by the Ambassadors to France of Chile and Italy were also included, and American Friends Chairman Catharine Hamilton thanked Ambassador Rivkin for hospitality at the American Embassy. Between events, some participants stopped by the at-home boutique of Anne-Marie de Ganay and picked out fabulous pieces of jewelry, table accessories and all-silk robes. www.americanfriendsofversailles.org
Meanwhile back in Paris proper, photographs capturing the mood swings of the four seasons were displayed in a solo exhibit of works by South Korean artist Ahae. All taken from his window in an attempt to capture the passing of time, the landscapes and wildlife depict moments that may never occur again. From morning’s first light to the last glimmer of day through all the mood swings of the spring, summer, winter and fall.
Displayed in a custom-built exhibition hall within the Jardin des Tuileries at the Louvre, the exhibit featured two actual windows adding insight to the photographer’s point of view. www.AHAE.com
