The Fanciful Magpie

Love and Romance

 Love and Romance at Inspiration Avenue

We've had a lot of that lately, especially with our upcoming

Tags from the Heart tag swap. We can't get it out of our minds!

{Friday (January 25) is the last day to sign up for the swap,

just in case you want to know!}

When I think of romance, I think of that dreamy city, Paris.

When I think of France, and a theme for a piece of art,

I often think of Marie Antoinette.

This is a collage I made for the weekly challenge at IA.

Marie is gliding through the garden at the Petit Trianon

to meet her lover, the Swedish Count Axel Fersen.

It's ungodly early in the morning and the fog and dewy grass

are dampening the hem of her dress. But no matter,

she probably won't wear the outfit again anyway. . .

Why so early? Well, to avoid prying eyes that watch

everything she does. Not that Louis would care much

about her love affair . . . it's her enemies at court who criticize

the smallest thing she does. There are already rumors, but

what would they say if they knew it to be true?

The Petit Trianon

Imagine! Wouldn't you love to have this as your little getaway!

“The Petit Trianon, a three-story neo-Classical château 

was originally built on the grounds of Versailles in 1762-68 

by Louis XV for his mistress Madame de Pompadour. 

Louis XVI gave it to Marie in June 1774, a few days 

after he became king, when she asked for a hideaway. 

("This pleasure house is yours," he told her.)” [source]

King Louis XVI

Count Axel Fersen

Count Fersen orchestrated the last
desperate attempt at escape for the royal family when
they were imprisoned by the leaders of the French Revolution.
Of course, the disastrous attempt failed and
both Louis and Marie went to the guillotine in 1793,
Louis in January and Marie nine months later in October.

Don't miss the other Love and Romance entries
at Inspiration Avenue!
I'm barely making it in under the wire this week,
so I'm off to add this to Mr. Linky!