The night air hardly stirs--it is very warm in the Hall of Mirrors. But it is not too heated to discourage the dancers from dancing the Minuet. The ballroom is filled with the sounds from violins, cellos, woodwinds, and the harpsichord. The men dressed in fashionable powdered wigs, brocade vests in velvets and silks with volumous lace cuffs at their wrists. Their waistcoats speckle the ballroom floor with gaiety. Leggings in taffetas and silks are completed with dazzling snowy stockings, and black glistening boots are garnished with diamonds and rubies.
The ladies coiffures are piled high embellished with emeralds, topazes, and strands of frost and rose-colored pearls. Their ears twinkle with jewels. Garnishing their necks is a world rainbow of precious stones. Above their tiny waists, are velvets, silks, taffetas, and satins festooned with lacy insets at their wrists. The lace topping the bodice nimbly banters with cleavage. The stays under their clothing support the hoops, and enormous petticoats that will bounce to the music.
There is an air of expectancy among the guests. An occasional murmur is hidden behind a fan or hand. A smile is exchanged between dancers, the Baroque music begins. They glide into a wide circle, bowing to each other as they begin the dance. A toe is pointed, then tapped. As they spin and glide, tiny slippers, appear occasionally from under the mountain of swirling petticoats revealing shimmering white stockings bedecked with embroidery.
The couples, their bodies like swans, execute the intricate steps. The kaleidoscope of dresses flash brilliantly, enhanced by the overhead and wall-glittering glass chandeliers. The image of the dancers is magnified a thousand times in the mirrors and shimmering windows giving the appearance to the watchers that there is no world outside the ballet that is taking place.
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I could faintly hear the music too, but usually the images that I see are not accompanied with sound. It was an incredible experience to see that Hall--one that I'll never forget. Was there something in the Hall that created that 'for' me or did it happen because of 'my' imagination? Doesn't really matter to me which it was--it was just a fantastically moving and enjoyable experience.
Click on the Video of Versailles.
If you stand back, it's very compelling, but not as entrancing as being up close such as the one above:
This experience is permanently etched into my book of memories.
The palace and the grounds:
After watching the video and looking at the pictures, is it any wonder why the people revolted? LOL
