The Joan Cooper Memorial Lecture* – Vaux le Vicomte “Fit for a King”: the inspiration behind Versailles Palace – a tale of misplaced jealousy, ambition and betrayal ONLINE VIA ZOOM
The Joan Cooper Memorial Lecture* – Vaux le Vicomte “Fit for a King”: the inspiration behind Versailles Palace – a tale of misplaced jealousy, ambition and betrayal ONLINE VIA ZOOM
Lecturer: Carole Petipher
French 17th century chateau design owes much to one man – the ambitious visionary and finance minister Nicolas Fouquet, who is still somewhat of an enigma today. He seemed invincible but made one grave error of judgement which was to lead to his downfall. He employed the country’s best talent of the day to commission a spectacular chateau for himself. In doing so he was completely outshining the Sun King – and his boss – Louis XIV. Vaux le Vicomte presented a radical new look for the century whilst Versailles was at that time nothing more than a humble hunting lodge. The story that ensues is legendary.
This lecture explores innovative garden design and architecture together with lavish interiors to tell the shocking story.
*March is the birth month of the Society’s founder and former President, the late Joan Cooper
Carole Petipher has 20 years’ experience as a guide and lecturer on combined history and art tours in France. Having lived and worked on a number of bespoke river vessels and converted barges there, she has used them as a platform from which to research her lectures. She uses art in all its guises to explore the characters who shaped France and likes to delve behind the scenes to discover hidden truths. She also acts as a guide for a privately owned ancestral home in her native Chilterns.