{"product_id":"9781350451353","title":"Versailles Mirrored: The Power of Luxury, Louis XIV to Donald Trump","description":"Author: Wellington, Robert\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9781350451353\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Bloomsbury\u003cbr\u003eYear first published: 13 Nov 2025\u003cbr\u003ePages: 256 Format: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy has Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003edefining symbol of hedonistic opulence in 17th-century France and synonymous with the notion of the divine right of kings,\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e continued to shape the aesthetics of cultural capital in the centuries since his death?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eVersailles Mirrored\u003c\/i\u003e, Robert Wellington tracks this enduring fascination with the Sun King's palace through eight case studies spanning the 17th to 21st centuries. The book demonstrates how the extravagant palace style began as a symbol of the state in the 17th century; how it was adopted by the nouveau riche to show off their financial success in the 19th century; and, remarkably, how that palace look returned to play a role in statecraft in the hands of US President Donald Trump. Wellington links the aristocratic architectural traditions of France, England, and Germany to North America through the lens of Versailles, French architecture, and the decorative arts.\u003cbr\u003eOpening with a brief overview of the history of Versailles and the political and cultural motivations of its creation, subsequent chapters address aristocratic buildings in France and Germany built by the Sun King's contemporaries; historicism in the 19th century in Britain, Germany, and America; and the present day, with Trump's buildings and Ch  teau Louis XIV, known as the 'world's most expensive home', purchased by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.\u003cbr\u003eIn uncovering the motivations of those patrons, the book ultimately reveals why Versailles remains a powerful point of reference for those who wish to flaunt their social, cultural, and political capital.","brand":"Ships in 10 to 15 days","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46643226378398,"sku":"UBD-9781350451353","price":49.78,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0400\/9043\/5742\/files\/9781350451353.jpg?v=1774484707","url":"https:\/\/classicbargains.com.au\/products\/9781350451353","provider":"Classic Bargains Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}