In the Louvre museum there is displayed a rather shocking painting of a naked Gabrielle d’Estrées with an equally naked yet unnamed sister tweaking her nipple. Supposedly announcing a pregnancy and upcoming royal marriage, it was deemed so disgraceful when it later hung in the Paris Prefecture, a green curtain hid the two women from […]
Madame de Villars, a scandalous life in 17th century Paris Continue reading
In 18th century Paris, nine out of every ten newborn babies born were sent away from their family after birth. Some returned, many did not. They were subject to the age-old tradition of wet nursing in France, where babies were not breastfed by their own mother but were given to a wet nurse, another woman
Breast is best? A history of wet nursing in France Continue reading
If I were to say Versailles, you would more than likely think of a golden palace and a glittering hall of mirrors, not too far from Paris. You’d be right, of course, but there is so much more to the city of Versailles than its sumptuous 17th century château – dignified mansions, narrow arcades, soaring
A visit to Versailles (not the Château!) Continue reading