Dans les ateliers de costumes des Menus Plaisirs du Roi

During the 18th century, the French court employed a considerable number of people and resources in order create the most brilliant performances, which reflected the monarchs’ power. But who made the costumes for the spectacles; how these people worked, where, and how were the costumes distributed and used? And how much did this all cost? Through study of the inventories, costume programs, working sheets and contracts I uncover the actual work on and economy of the costume for court stage.