Noted for his ostentatious spending, promotion of the arts, and construction of the palace of Versailles, Louis XIV (1643-1715) ruled France with absolute authority for 52 years. This accurately rendered collection portrays the seventeenth-century monarch at various ages in his long reign, along with ladies of his magnificent court.Among the articles in the wardrobe of the "Sun King" are military wear; riding attire; a sumptuous velvet robe lined with ermine; and a suit of golden, brocaded satin. The ladies of the court are accompanied by lavish gowns of silk, satin, and lace, often encrusted with jewels and embroidered with gold and silver threads.Carefully researched notes provide descriptions for a splendid display of costumes sure to delight paper doll fans, costume designers, and anyone fascinated by seventeenth-century fashions.
