Piece description from the artist
Château de Versailles – The Palace of Versailles
The Château de Versailles was the principal royal residence of France from 1682 under Louis XIV until the start of the French Revolution in 1789 under Louis XVI. It was first the Gondi family estate surrounded by a small village and church and in 1623-24 King Louis XIII built a two-story hunting lodge. From 1631-34 it was decided the site would transform from a hunting lodge to a chateau of brick and stone, becoming a formal country estate. From 1661-78, under the guidance of Louis XIV, the site was to greatly expand into a royal palace complete with royal apartments for the King and Queen. At this time the formal gardens were brought to life with greenery and fountains, and further expansions took place from 1678 until the King's death in 1715. Future additions included the Salon of Hercules and the Royal Opera, but after the abolition of the French Monarchy in 1793, the furnishings and art were sold at auction and the royal apartments were opened for tours with several smaller rooms opening as art galleries. Today it is a French Historic Monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and many of the furnishings and original artworks have been returned and much of the palace has been restored.
Ashland grew up in Southeast Virginia surrounded by lush rural landscapes, great protected swamp lands, national & state parks, the Chesapeake Bay, the Eastern Shore, the breathtaking Skyline Drive & Blue Ridge Mountains, and the inlets & oceans of Virginia & North Carolina.
It was this constant variation in natural beauty that first drew his eye to the camera; that, and the constant joy of capturing life's candid moments on film. Although no particular subject is banned from the lens of Ashland's camera, it is landscapes, cityscapes, wildlife, and nature that truly captures his heart.
"There's always more to see, more to learn, more to be wowed about-I just hope you enjoy what I see in the world."
A constant staple on the likes of Instagram, Flickr, and Facebook, Ashland currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, and looks forward to many more years of development, collaboration, creativity, world travel, and art.
www.ashlandthomas.com
www.facebook.com/ashlandthomasphotography
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