Exhibition "Marie-Antoinette: Metamorphoses of an Image"

Intriguing, fascinating, multifaceted ... Queen Marie-Antoinette is one of the few historical figures whose image has been revised, corrected and reworked over the centuries.

Sometimes portrayed as a martyr, a traitor, an exemplary mother, or a lost teenager, she still intrigues to the point of being a veritable icon.
From 16 October 2019 to 26 January 2020, the Conciergerie de Paris will throw light on this multidimensional character in a major exhibition titled ‘Marie-Antoinette: Metamorphoses of an Image’.

The figure of Marie-Antoinette in history

This exhibition offers a reading of history through the prism of the queen's image as portrayed in the 200 or so works presented (rare archives including her last letters, and art objects, etc).

Starting with the representations of Marie-Antoinette created during the 10 weeks preceding her beheading, the exhibition shows the successive - and sometimes frantic - waves of illustrations, portraits, engravings and pamphlets dedicated to the queen, which would continue long after her death.

Also visible, and particularly poignant, is Marie-Antoinette’s cell, a tangible testimony of her last days as it was here at the Conciergerie that she was imprisoned during her trial. Items of her clothing and accessories are preserved here.

Marie-Antoinette in popular culture

The exhibition also shows how the iconic figure of Marie-Antoinette is portrayed today, in fashion, literature, cinema and mangas.

Extracts from major films, unpublished interviews (notably with Sofia Coppola), costumes and contemporary works of art complement and round of a visit to the exhibition illustrating the queen's popularity and showing to what extent this extraordinary figure is still a rich source of inspiration for many generations of artists, more than 3 centuries after her execution.

The exhibition ‘Marie-Antoinette: Metamorphoses of an Image’ offers a unique portrait of one of the first celebrities in history.

Please note
- Free for under 18s, and 18-25s from the European Union.
- Any closures (strikes, public holidays, etc.) and exceptional free admission will not lead to the refund, nor the extension of the duration of tickets.

As part of the Vigipirate program security controls are put in place at the entrance of Parisian museums and monuments. In case of a large attendance, these controls can create a waiting time which cannot be skipped.