Gezicht op het Petit Trianon vanuit de tuin 1860 - 1880

This is a stereoscopic image of the Petit Trianon, taken from the garden, made by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy in the late 19th century. As a stereograph, it was meant to produce an illusion of three-dimensionality when viewed through a special viewer. The photograph captures the Petit Trianon, a small château located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. Built in the 1760s, it was a retreat for Louis XV's mistress, and later, Marie Antoinette. The presence of the two figures in the foreground is intriguing, their gaze directed towards the residence. What were their dreams and desires as they stood before this symbol of opulence and power? The Petit Trianon, for Marie Antoinette, represented a place where she could escape the rigid protocols of court life. But this desire for personal freedom also made her the target of criticism, and was seen as symbolic of the monarchy's disconnect from the lives of ordinary people. Lamy’s photograph allows us to reflect on how the lives of the monarchy were perceived by the public. What does it mean to look at this residence, knowing its history?