Treasure(s) is a word that has many meanings. It can be both:
- A monetary reserve a sovereign can dip into;
- An accumulation of precious objects of all kinds;
- A place;
- Someone very precious or who possesses unparalleled know-how (a living treasure in Japan);
- The object of a legendary quest like those of the Knights of the Round Table;
- Or, quite simply, something to which you are deeply (sentimentally) attached and which you want to keep hidden from others….
Whichever definition you choose, treasure indicates something priceless and precious. In this exhibition, you won’t come across pirates or corsairs looking for Treasure Island - but coffers overflowing with gold and silverware are not far away! This exhibition is all about the treasures of kings, princes and the powerful. It includes 60 diverse works, covering the various definitions of the word treasure. These are ostentatious items, symbolising the wealth and power of their owners. As such, they are all part of public displays of power:
- Official banquets where wealth is displayed through tableware;
- The coronation of kings and other religious ceremonies requiring a catalyst to strengthen the link between power and God;
- Diplomatic interactions marked by the exchanging of prestigious gifts;
- The art of war during which the prince decides on the image he wishes to portray through the armour he wears...
But there are also treasures made for the private domain. In the chamber of power, we see the patronage the powerful bestowed on artists through objects such as books (illuminated in the Middle Ages or printed from the middle of the 15th century on) and tapestries, etc. Incorporated into the very private lives of kings and queens, other small items played a role in appearance, relating to the royal toilette, beauty and body care.
Illustration
Banquet of Charles V (Charles the Wise)
Grandes Chroniques de France (Great Chronicles of France)
Master of the Bible of Jean de Sy circa 1375 - 1380
Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France
French 2813, f° 473 v°