Let Them Eat Cake

Grand Salon from the Hôtel de Tessé, Paris, ca. 1768–72, with later additions. Made by Nicolas Huyot (1700–1791). Carved, painted, and gilded oak; marble; plaster. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Mrs. Herbert N. Straus, 1942 (42.203.1)

«Imagine you come home one afternoon to find a large envelope has been left for you at your door. The letter inside reads:

You are cordially invited to join Her Majesty the Queen for tea this afternoon
at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.»

With your invitation in hand, you arrive at the Met, walk toward European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, and into the period rooms. Pastel-colored walls are framed by golden skirting boards and carved motifs. Crystal chandeliers sparkle in the sunlight, casting diamonds on the wall. Lush pillows cushion the chairs seated around a white marble chimneypiece with a monogrammed silk screen, and floor-to-ceiling windows open onto balconies overlooking the park.

As you take in the lavish furniture and extravagant style, you are transported back to eighteenth-century France. It is amazing how, as soon as you step into the room, your ears are flooded with the music of the harp and you suddenly imagine the important meetings and grand balls that took place in the parlors.

Suddenly, you are pulled back to the present as the security guard lets you know that the Museum will be closing soon. You walk home, dreaming of Versailles and masquerade balls, not bothering to think about what your family will be eating for dinner. All you can hear are the famous words of Marie Antoinette: "Let them eat cake."

Has a period room or work of art ever transported you to another time or place? Let us know by posting a comment below!