Exhibition
Marie Antoinette Style
Sponsored by Manolo Blahnik
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An Evening with Marie Antoinette at the National Art Library
Explore the life, influence and cultural world of Marie Antoinette through rare books, prints and images from the National Art Library.
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Tickets available from 10.00 on Saturday, 20 December 2025
Join us for an exclusive evening led by V&A curators and National Art Library specialists as they uncover the life and legacy of one of history’s most fascinating figures. From the opulence of the French court to the revolutionary forces that reshaped Europe, Marie Antoinette lived at the centre of an extraordinary artistic, political and social network.
This special Members-only event offers a unique opportunity to examine some of the original materials which contributed to the curation of Marie Antoinette Style. In small groups at the National Art Library, get up close to fashion plates, jewellery designs, fairy tales, and books spanning from the 18th century to the Art Deco period. Curators will explore how Marie Antoinette’s style, patronage and public image were constructed, contested and continually reimagined.
The evening will commence and conclude with a drinks reception in the Members' Restaurant.
Header image: Le Bonheur du Jour, ou, Les Graces à la Mode, illustrations by George Barbier, Paris: Chez Meynial, [1924]. Museum no. 38041800940611 (C) Victoria and Albert Museum, London.