Step into the Furniture Conservation Studio to watch Senior Conservator Philip Kevin carefully and mindfully removing the frame from an original portrait of the controversial Queen of France, Marie Antoinette.
What does the painting show?
Dated 1773, the oil painting by court painter François Hubert Drouais depicts Antoinette at age 17 – before the French Revolution and her almighty downfall and execution 20 years later. Painted in Versailles, in Paris, France, the portrait shows the princess in a lavish necklace and court dress, adorned with sumptuous jewels.
See the conservation close-up
Watch as Philip removes the painting's frame in preparation for analysis by the V&A Science Conservation team. From examining the condition of the frame to gently prising it open, follow each step as we reveal the striking portrait.
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Find out more about Marie Antoinette and her influence on design, fashion, film and art.
