Exhibition: Festivities and Ceremonies at the Valois Court

Fontainebleau's 2020 exhibition will expose the dazzling art of Renaissance festivities

The Château de Fontainebleau, palace of Valois court festivities The French court of the 15 th century was characterised by festivity. Tournaments on land and water, banquets, balls, and masquerades inspirited the world of the sovereigns. Royal entrances, weddings, baptisms, and diplomatic receptions all involved the biggest names in Renaissance art, who produced fantastic works for the occasion: Da Vinci's mechanical lion, Philibert Delorme's ephemeral architecture, and the extravagant costumes designed by Rosso Fiorentino and Primaticcio to name a few. These celebrations were moments of pleasure guided by a sense of humanism. Their programmes were composed by notable poets and philosophers such as Ronsard, Dorat, and Desportes. The Valois festivities not only entertained the court but also worked to the government's advantage as foreign ambassadors spread word of the monarchy's brilliance. In the midst of the Wars of Religion, they served as a political tool, reconciling through dance the antagonistic Catholics and Huguenots while praising the sovereign. Souvenirs of French festivity The Château de Fontainebleau's forthcoming exhibition, opening autumn 2020, will bring together an exceptional group of tapestries, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, and objets d'art. Its focal point, two pieces from the famed Valois Tapestries series, illustrates the scope of Catherine de Medici's celebrations, from extravagant costumed tournaments to diplomatic banquets and the birth of court ballet. These works evoke the variety of festivities at the Valois court, their components, and above all the spirit and ideals behind their conception. The European character of the exhibition is expressed through an exceptional collaboration of major institutions including the Uffizi Galleries (Florence), Kunsthistorisches Museum (Vienna), British Museum (London), Nationalmuseum (Stockholm), and Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam). Become a patron of an unprecedented display of Renaissance masterpieces! Your contribution will support the Château de Fontainebleau, a historical crossroads of the European Renaissance, in assembling and presenting masterpieces from across the continent . Concretely, your patronage will enable the transport of precious pieces including tapestries from the Uffizi Galleries and Kunsthistorisches Museum as well as Da Vinci drawings held by the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle – priceless works of art brought together for the first time ever! Giving to this project also means supporting educational activities, the reconstitution of an original Renaissance costume, and the publication of the exhibition catalogue. Want to discuss our projects? 💬 Eric Grebille, Head of Sponsorship Telephone: (+33) 01.60.71.57.92 / (+33) 06.87.40.14.34 Email: eric.grebille@chateaudefontainebleau.fr → Other ways to support the Château de Fontainebleau ← Discover all of our current projects or leave a gift in your will

Alternative ways to give:

For gifts by check: Write your check to KBFUS, write " American Friends of the Château de Fontainebleau " in the memo section of the check, and send it to KBFUS, 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2400, New York, NY 10176. Gifts by wire transfer or to contribute other types of property: Email KBFUS at: info@kbfus.org or phone (212) 713 7660.