Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Ange-Jacques Gabriel: Louis XV's Premier Architect

Ange-Jacques Gabriel by Jean-Baptiste Greuze
Ange-Jacques Gabriel (October 23, 1698 – January 4, 1782) was born into a family of great architects, succeeding his father, Jacques Gabriel, as the premier architect of France in 1742. 

During his tenure he oversaw the transition from the ornate Rococo period to the order & simplicity of Neoclassicism driven by the belief that progress depends upon reason and discipline.

His love of symmetry and classical proportion is reflected in many of his creations from the minute French Pavilion (completed 1750) to the enormous Château de Versailles (including extensive palace renovations starting in 1735 & the addition of the Royal Opera 1769-1770).

For me, one of the many delights of re-creating his buildings are discovering the false doors which have been placed "just so" to maintain the symmetrical appearance of a room.  Equally fascinating are the "secret" doors that are blended into the walls for the same reason. I stumbled upon this technique for the first time while constructing  The Billard Room of the Petit Trianon.

The Château de Compiègne seen from the garden (Wikipedia)
His major works included the Château de Compiègne (1750+) and a number of hôtels particuliers in the Place de la Concorde.

The Petit Trianon (1762-1768) is perhaps his most celebrated achievement.


Sunday, November 6, 2011

Académie Royale de Musique: November 2011

The Académie Royale de Musique in conjunction with the Duché de Coeur is pleased to present the following events for November 2011. 

November 06: Elvera Lerner with a Julie Andrews Tribute
November 06: SaraMarie Philly
November 06: Adevina Citron
November 06: WaltKeys Faith

November 11: Adevina Citron
November 11: Chris Fredrikkson

November 12: Lauren Ilo
November 12: The Balladeer
November 12: Tukso Okey

November 13: Benski Korhonen

November 20: Lauren Ilo

November 26: SaraMarie Philly
November 26: Lauren Ilo
November 26: The Balladeer
November 26: Kitty Zeddmore
November 26: Benski Korhonen

November 27: Yuki Hutchinson

Please follow the links for detailed information including times & SL® locations

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion SL

The French Pavilion - My SL Virtual Rendition

As recounted in my post regarding the real life (RL) version, (Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion RL) the French Pavilion (le pavillon français) was designed by the Louis XV’s chief architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the instigation of Madame Pompadour. This miniature palace was intended as a summer gaming room with an attached salon frais or summer dining room. Thirty years later, Marie Antoinette would also use it for private concerts given by lantern light.


My virtual re-creation of the French Pavilion for Second Life ® was a true labour of love. It took me almost three months to painstakingly create the textures and to piece together all of those 45 degree angled walls!

Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion RL

The French Pavilion 2009.  Photo by Stefan of ArchitectDesign™

The French Pavilion (le pavillon français) which now stands as the central gem of the Petit Trianon’s formal French Gardens was actually completed in 1750, a few years prior to the building of the Petit Trianon itself.

The French Pavilion 2009. Photo by Stefan of ArchitectDesign™

Designed by the Louis XV’s chief architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the instigation of Madame Pompadour this miniature palace was intended as a summer gaming/dining room. Thirty years later, Marie Antoinette would also use it for private concerts given by lantern light.


The main salon is octagonal with an inlaid marble floor and is surrounded by four cabinets in a cruciform arrangement. The walls are gilded with cherubs highlighting each entrance. Cherubs & birds are also featured on the circular cornice which is supported by eight Corinthian columns. Four arched French doors provide light, exterior views and access


 The cabinets are each unique according to their purpose. Three of the cabinets (boudoir, café & wash closet and antichamber) can be entered from the main salon. The fourth cabinet, originally the kitchen and therefore the domain of the staff, is partitioned off from main salon. Each cabinet contains two exterior French doors as well as a set of casement windows.

I had an absolutely wonderful time studying and then re-creating this magical pavilion in Second Life® as you can see in Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion SL.

I was inspired and aided by Stefan's The French Pavilion as well as  Views and Plans of the Petit Trianon Versailles and Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles.
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Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion RL by on 2011-10-02
Designed by the Louis XV’s chief architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the instigation of Madame Pompadour this miniature palace was intended as a summer gaming/dining room.

Find Tatiana Dokuchic on Google+

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Académie Royale de Musique: October 2011

The Académie Royale de Musique in conjunction with the Duché de Coeur is pleased to present the following events for October 2011.

October 03: Yuki Hutchinson
October 14: Ceci Dover
October 14: Joozz Magic
October 16: Miriam Forsythe
October 22: WaltKeys Faith
October 23: Tip Corbett

The Harvest Festival will also be held from October 28th to October 30th with more information to follow. 

Follow the links for detailed information including times & SL® locations

Monday, September 26, 2011

Petit Trianon: The French Gardens in Autumn

Autumn has arrived in the French Gardens of the Petit Trianon

Visit Le Jardin Français in Second Life®

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Académie Royale de Musique: September 2011

The Académie Royale de Musique in conjunction with the Duché de Coeur is delighted to present the following program for September 2011.

September 23: Concert-Dani Plassitz
September 24: Ballet-Flori Muffin
September 24: Blues Night-Pmann Sands
September 25: Opera House & Art Gallery Open House with Ceci Dover
September 27: Reggaie Night-Born Again Pagans
September 30: Concert-Joaquin Gustav

Follow the links for detailed information including times & SL® locations.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Discover the Duché de Coeur Hunt

Between September 15-30, 2011, the Duché de Coeur of Second Life® will be hosting the Discover the Duché Hunt.

Merchants, Artists and Creators will be placing free gifts inside bronze fleur de lis and hiding them around their shops.

To see a list of participating creators and get a sneak peak at the prizes, visit the Discover the Duché Hunt website.

SLURLS are also provided so one may teleport from the site to Hunt locations. You can also use the Duché carriage system to take you to each location.

Louis XV Dejeuner Tea Set
Hunt Gift from Tatiana's Tea Room
If you have any questions, please contact Bagheera Kristan inworld.
Have Fun!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Académie Royale de Musique: Opening Night Masquerade Ball & Gala



Another exciting season is starting for the Académie Royale de Musique.  A Masquerade Ball will be held on September 17, 2011 at 12pm SLT in the Languedoc Coeur Ballroom followed by a performance Billy Mikoyan and the Billy Mikoyan Orchestra.

At 2pm SLT, the party continues with Ceci Drover performing at the Skull & Crossbones Inn.  More event information here.

Everyone is welcome to this Second Life® event!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Petit Trianon: The Queen's Theatre

Interior of Le Théâtre de la Reine. Photo by Denise of The Swelle Life
The plain facades and the little entrance of the edifice contrasted with the ravishing interior of the building in shades of gold and blue.  Apollo with the Graces and the Muses, a painting by the artist Lagrenée, decorated the ceiling.  Deschamps was responsible for the sculptures and the bas-reliefs.  However, to save some money and to mollify the impatience of Marie-Antoinette, all sculptures were in papier-mâché.  From floor to ceiling, everything was painted in trompe l'oeil.

How fortunate we are that this gem managed to survive the revolution, more or less intact, as the mob considered it to be of little value.  As with Marie Antoinette's Private Apartments in Versailles, The Queen's Theatre was a collaboration between Marie Antoinette & Richard Mique.  Built in 1780 and located on the grounds of the Petit Trianon, it followed the social trend started by Madame Pompadour that saw small, private theatres adorning large country estates.

The Queen, an enthusiastic performer since her childhood, enlisted family & friends as her castmates while the King was reportedly a very keen member of the audience.  Plays were performed and operas were sung; the joys of  the simple, country life often dictating the theme.  It was a theme which Marie Antoinette would also persue in building the Queen's Hamlet adjacent to the Petit Trianon as she expanded her romantic role of the comely peasant girl from the stage further into her real life.

Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles
See more of Denise's Versailles Series: Le Théâtre de la Reine  including some great photos of the restored theatre.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Destination: Duché de Coeur

Duché de Coeur - coastal view by Inara Pey

Inara Pey from Living in a Modern World: Thoughts on Virtual Living dropped by the Duché recently having discovered it during our 2nd Annual Arts & Music Festival

Though I somehow managed to miss her visit (note to self: you should really get out & about more) I was delighted that she enjoyed her time visiting the Coeurs and wrote:
Every once in a while as one travels around Second Life, one comes across a place that is so utterly unexpected, that one cannot help responding to it by thinking, “This is what Second Life is about!”
Duché de Coeur is just such a place.
The Duché has been an ongoing "labour of love" not only for myself and my business partners, Skye & Bedrich but for the whole community who help to make history come alive in a most enjoyable fashion.  It's always such a pleasure when someone new discovers our virtual world and enjoys it!!

Read the full article at Destination: Duché de Coeur.