Versailles: Science and Splendour

The seat of royal power in France in the 17th and 18th centuries was renowned for its opulent palace and gardens, but it was also a cradle of scientific spirit. Developed with support from our expert advisor, the Palace of Versailles, the exhibition will reveal the meeting of art and science in the court as it showcases more than 100 fascinating objects, from the extravagant to the every day, many of which have never been displayed in the UK before.

Versailles: Science and Splendour explores how the monarchs Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI encouraged scientific pursuit and readily drew on the technological advances of their times. It shows how scientific knowledge enhanced France’s prestige and extended its influence. The exhibition highlights significant figures, including stories of women in science, such as the pioneering midwife Madame du Coudray, who trained thousands of midwives in rural France and Emilie du Châtelet, the eminent physicist and mathematician who translated Isaac Newton’s Principia.