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| Please
meet some of the guests on this splendid sunny day of August
17th. |
Sir
Robert from England. |
His
wife, Lady Louise. |
Lady
Louise's cousin the Comtesse de Neville. |
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| Lady
Sophie contemplating in the refreshingly cool grotto.
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Lady
Sophie's friend the Baronin von Cleve. |
Lady
Anna overlooking the garden. |
Lady
Anna |
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| Lady
Louise |
Lady
Sophie |
The
group of illustrious visitors in front of the impressive entrance. |
Two
ladies resting and enjoying to watch the other guests from 340
years ago. |
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| The
side wing leading up to the courtyard. |
Lady
Anna on the terrace overlooking the garden. |
The
party arrived in the forecourt and has already left their carriage
with the stable hands. |
The
magnificent and beautiful chateau comes into view to everyone's
delight. |
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| Our
gentleman quite delighted with the 'burden' of accompanying
to young pretty ladies. |
Resting
for a moment to admire the view towards the side buildings and
the chateau waiting for us. |
Stepping
through the iron wrought gate from 2001 into 1661 on the very
same day. |
The
17th August 1661 was as splendid as the 17th August 2001.
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| Overlooking
the courtyard. |
Looking
forward to the splendours and joy of this very special day.
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On
the terrace in the warm sunshine, looking out over the garden.
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The
beautifully harmonious facade of the back of the chateau.
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| Perhaps
these guests are not visible to the camera in contrast to us.
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Certainly
though did we enjoy our wonderful day. |
Lady
Sophie in conversation with her cousin's husband. |
Enjoying the bridge which spans from the terrace over the moat
into the garden. |
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| A
little gossip on the bridge. |
The
ladies and gentleman looking forward to tasting the pastry baker's
delicacies. |
Some
little fun with three ladies in the grotto. |
The
sun requires the shade of a silk parasol to keep the pale complexion.
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| Lady
Anna and Lady Sophie exchanging the latest fashion news.
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Sophie
and Sir Robert in the warm afternoon sun. |
Ohhh...
fishes! |
Admiring
the paintwork by Charles Le Brun in the dining room.
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| Genteel
conversation in the lovely gardens. |
Proper
greeting and amicable manners. |
The
visitors from abroad enjoying themselves. |
Three
ladies gossiping: "Oh, look, what she is wearing, this
is sooo 1650s!" |
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| Comtesse
Sophie tying the silk ribbon of her brocade shoe. |
With
laughter and giggles playing a game of 'peekaboo'. |
Relishing
the freshness of the little waterfall near the canal at the
other end of the garden. |
Watching
the tranquility of the canal and the swan boats passing by.
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| Swan
boats and sunshine at the pond. |
Husband
and wife chatting amicably in the shade of the woods terraced
above the gardens. |
Walking
towards one of the grand staircases leading back up to the gardens
from the canal. |
Amused
by watching the fishes swim by. |
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| Comtesse
Sophie flashing a silk stockinged leg and velvet garter. |
The
day could not have been any more gorgeous. |
The
shade provides comfort in the neatly planted alleys in the small
woods. |
There
is nothing compared to the wondrous beauty and tranquility of
the place. |
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| The
water features opposite to the canal and lower than the rest
of the garden. |
Strolling
along the canal. |
The
play of sun and shade on the rich silks while the ladies giggle
and gossip. |
Fun
and laughter playing 'weather hut' |
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| Conversation
underneath one of the many statues in the garden. |
Resting
on a stone bench with the breathtakingly beautiful chateau as
a backdrop. |
Waiting
with anticipation for the fireworks and amusements in the evening.
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All
of us agreed upon the beauty of this place. Monsieur Fouquet
you truly created magnificence. |
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| Sophie
and Sir Robert talking near the outbuildings. |
Watching
the other guests of the fete, perhaps not visible to the camera's
artificial eye, but in our hearts they were all there.
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Enjoying
every moment and every new angle of the lovely view.
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A
photo worth a period painting, beauty everywhere, but none more
splendid than the harmony of the chateau. |
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| Chatting
happily away in the afternoon sun, congratulating the original
host of the famous fete. |
Sir
Robert a la one of the drawings in 'The Draughtman's Contract'
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Strolling
back towards the garden and into the hub of the illustrious
guests 340 years ago. |
A
last look over the canal, before the foreign guests stroll back
to the garden and finally the chateau itself. |
