Le Petit Théâtre de la Reine, and a brief miscarriage of color

The Petit Théâtre de la Reine, which is situated adjacent to the Jardin Français of the Petit Trianon, was designed by Marie Antoinette's achitect, Richard Mique, and constructed in 1780.  The building is quite austere on the exterior, but the interior - which only seats, at maximum, one hundred - was lavishly decorated in the height of the current, delicately neo-classical style.  The décor, giving the appearance of being constructed of marble and gilt bronze, is actually all made of wood and papier maché.  Remarkably, this beautiful and fragile structure has survived intact; most remarkably, so has its extensive stage machinery.

***

For a time, during the reign of Louis-Philippe (1830-1848), the blue wall hangings and drapery were changed from the original greenish-blue to a vivid red.  An unfortunate choice which was later, thankfully, undone.

Vue du petit théâtre de Marie-Antoinette au Petit Trianon sous Louis-Philippe, by Antoinette Asselineau, 1838.