Document Signed
1784.
Document Signed, "Payez, Marie Antoinette," one page, folio, Versailles, April 1, 1784. In French. The Queen requests the Treasurer General of her household, M. Marc-Antonie-Marie Randon de la Tour to pay for the maintenance, food and billeting of her officers for the quarter. Additionally, she requests him to pay Briant, "the dance master of our pages," the sum of 136 livres, 17 sous, six deniers.
The text of the order is in secretarial hand. It is signed by the Queen and again by her secretary. Framed with blue inner and outer mats, with an engraving on a white and gold frame. Dimensions: 22" x 21 1/2".
Marie Antoinette was a devotee of theater and opera. Her taste ranged from tragedy and grand opera to musical comedy and country dancing. Many composers, playwrights and dance masters sought her patronage. In 1774 he received the gift of the Petit Trianon from the King and from 1777 to 1779, she had a small theater built there where she could act out plays with her friends. The Queen adored her theater and watched over every detail. The last performance at the Trianon was The Barber of Seville in the summer of 1785.
At the time of this payment order, Marie Antoinette had given birth to a daughter in 1778 and to an heir in 1781. A second son (and eventual heir as the first son would die) was born in 1785. In 1783, Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun painted her famous portrait of the Queen, in a casual muslin dress, which demonstrated the extent to which the Queen was trying to evolve a more casual, almost Rousseau-like style. Binding: Framed
Language: English
Price: $19,500.00
Item #337152