This exhibition at the Palace of Versailles is a Franco-German event associating the Louvre, Sèvres and Versailles with Dresden's seven museums. Through a museography designed by Jeanclos and Fontaine, it will display some 256 exhibits illustrating the collections, culture and opulence of the Court of Dresden in the time of Augustus II (1670-1733) known as the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland; a court that Voltaire described as "the most brilliant in Europe after that of Louis XIV."
As Dresden prepares to celebrate, in 2006, the 800th anniversary of its founding and with the Elbe valley recently classified as a UNESCO world heritage site, this city whose name immediately evokes the February 1945 bombardments is now showing a new face to the world. An unprecedented reconstruction project has resulted in the rebuilding of a considerable part of its historic centre and its castle has again become a showcase for collections previously hidden or confiscated but now returned. This work of recreating the face of the city has made these exceptional loans to Versailles possible.
Displays of paintings, jewels, silverware, bronzes, crystals and ivories will enable visitors to appreciate the extent of the artistic exchanges between the two royal courts.
Sets of jewellery resplendent with precious stones (only in Dresden have they been kept complete), costumes and masks inspired by those of Louis XIV's court, astonishing drawings and accessories, all give an idea of the dazzling festivities that Augustus the Strong hosted. Pieces of silver furniture indicate his fascination for Versailles and items from the great Meissen bestiary will also be on display along with some of the famous "dragoon vases". Augustus the Strong's passion for porcelain was such that he exchanged a regiment of dragoons (600 soldiers) for 151 monumental Chinese vases of the Kangxi era; this in turn led to the secret of porcelain being elucidated.
