Petit Trianon: Billard Room Boiserie

I'm delighted to announce the release of The Billard Room Boiserie!

I created this collection for The Billard Room of the Petit Trianon. In rl this room has recently been restored with plain white boiserie. I decided to be a bit more elaborate in sl and took my inspiration from "la salle des jeux de la reine Marie Antoinette" (Marie Antoinette's games room) in the Chateau de Compiègne. I used details from the wallpaper and boiserie which abounds with cherubs and flowers on a white background.


The collection consists of five single walls and three murals which can be purchase individually or in two sets. The sets offer a 20% discount.

As with all of my textures, these are intended for your private use (Mod, Copy, NO Transfer).

The PT-Billard Room Collection is available at my main store and on the SLM at Murals , Walls .

Marie Antoinette's Wedding Day

On Wednesday May 16, 1770 Marie Antoinette Josephe Jeanne Archduchess of Austria married Louis Auguste Dauphin of France.

Although there had been much lightning at La Muette, the next day, Wednesday, 16 May 1770 dawned brightly, fortunately for the crowds,including many great ones, who had to get up early and make the three-hour carriage journey to Versailles. Admission was by ticket only--with many stern official orders to the effect that this must be respected--but there were probably 6000 people present of all ranks. For the great ones, full court dress (grand habit de cour) was de rigueur: swords and silk coats for men,tightly boned bodices, hooped skirts and a long train for women, as well as elaborately dressed and powdered hair. The Duchess of Northumberland for one had to get up at 6 a.m. to have hers done.

The full panoply of Versailles was now loosed upon a central figure who, in the words of one observer, was so small and slender in her white brocade dress inflated with its vast hoops on either side that she looked "not above twelve." Yet the dignity of Marie Anotinette who had "the bearing of an archduchess"--the result of that rigorous grooming of her childhood, which had been the most efficient part of her education--was universally commended. And this was a place where style and grace of self-presentation were of paramount importance. The Dauphin on the other hand was generally reported as being cold, sulky or listless throughout the long Mass, in contrast to his bride. And he trembled with apprehension as he placed the chosen ring on her finger.

from Marie Antoinette The Journey by Antoina Fraser

Fabulous Fashion

I've always loved this portrait of Madame de Pompadour by François Boucher.

Such a beautiful woman, such a beautiful room, such a beautiful dress!! Looking at all of the details in this dress makes me delightfully dizzy. So how wonderful is it that I can actually "wear" this dress in Second Life thanks to the talents of Naergilien Wunderlich.

I've been a customer of Naergilien for quite some time now and her photo-realistic Rococo dresses have made my SL experience just that much better. This is one of the reasons I'm delighted to announce that I have expanded my main store to include a lovely new dress shop featuring the Wunderlich Rococo lines: Marquise de Pompadour & Duchess Movie Costumes as well as the Movie Costumes line. Drop by anytime you're in the mood for a new frock or need a costume for your next masquerade ball. The dresses are located on the second floor to the left of the stairs.

May Day

I've always considered May Day to be one of the most magical days of the year.

The thought of it certainly evokes a jumble of ideas & images in my head. Pagan rituals celebrating the growing season; the absolute relief of making it through another winter; Flora the goddess of flowers; the May Queen; the Maypole; Mayday (as in "help me" or "m'aider"); Anne Boleyn's world crashing down around her at a May Day Tournament. Did they really put the Queen of the May to death after the celebrations were over? Perhaps May magic is so powerful because of the dark & the light but at this time of year it is so easy to believe that the light is in ascendance!

Now on to a few SL updates.

The Duché de Coeur Landscape Painting contest has ended and our winners based on your votes are:

1st Place: 'Aquitaine Coeur Nord' by Janeloradana Janus

2nd Place: 'Sunlight beams into Untouched Silence' by Prissy206 Hammond

3rd Place: 'Wheatfield' by Morrigan Morrisey

A Special Masters Choice Award was Given by our Duchy Master Artist Trasgo Beaumont to: 'Waiting' by Morrigan Morrisey

Special Non-Cash Ribbons, the Duc and Duchesses' Choice Awards, were given to a selection of others we felt deserved special recognition. Please drop by the Canal in Languedoc Coeur to see the paintings and awards.

Congratulations to everyone who participated, we enjoyed seeing everyone's work!

The SL Discovery Gridwide Hunt starts today!

Tatiana's Tea Room is store #111 and the hunt is circular so you can start there if you like. I have "hidden" the magnifying glass which contains the gift but it shouldn't be that hard to find.

Find the official hunt information at SLDiscovery Hunt.