14 Novembre 2023 - 17 March 2024 Horace Vernet

Exhibition held at the Palace of Versailles from 14 November 2023 to 17 March 2024

The Exhibition

In November 2023, the Palace of Versailles is dedicating a major retrospective to the painter Horace Vernet (1789–1863). A key figure at Versailles during the reign of Louis-Philippe, the artist produced, over period of 13 years, some of the most beautiful paintings in the Historical Galleries, making Versailles home to the largest collection of his works today. More than 40 years after the last exhibition dedicated to Vernet, this retrospective of some 200 works provides an opportunity to discover many exceptional masterpieces, as well as sketches and drawings demonstrating how the artist worked.

Virtual tour

Find all the artworks in this exhibition in a unique setting using 360° photo technology. An immersive experience, to discover the world of Horace Vernet.

Virtual tour

Horace Vernet

Horace Vernet

© Sebastien Giles

Born in 1789 in the Louvre, Horace Vernet is the grandson of the artist Joseph Vernet and the son of Carle Vernet, an equestrian painter. A worthy heir to the family dynasty, despite failing to win the Prix de Rome, he quickly became a favourite of Napoleon I and his family.

Initially part of the Romantic movement of the 1820s alongside his friend Théodore Géricault, Vernet developed an easy and seductive style before discovering lithography. He became the favourite painter of the Duke of Orléans, the future Louis-Philippe.

After the 1822 Salon refused his paintings, Horace Vernet promptly organised a personal exhibition in his studio. A huge success, it cemented his reputation and marked the start of a long official career. The exhibition later this year will aim to demonstrate how the style of Horace Vernet’s works evolved, moving from the Romantic passion he shared with Géricault to more solemn depictions of battles.

© Sebastien Giles

The exhibition will highlight the importance of Horace Vernet’s travels, particularly in Italy and Algeria. Appointed director of the French Academy in Rome in 1829, Horace Vernet discovered the great classical Italian works and tried his hand at historical painting. In 1833, he became interested in Algeria and concentrated on Orientalist painting, depicting a variety of civil, religious and military subjects. Two years later, he was commissioned to depict the military conquests of Louis-Philippe’s heirs for the Africa rooms at the Palace of Versailles.

This period of major commissions also encompassed numerous trips to the East and to Russia. Under the Second Empire, Vernet’s career was recognised with a retrospective of his work at the Universal Exhibition of 1855. He died in 1863 after having received the medal of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.

A prolific painter, Vernet was both acclaimed and derided by critics, and aroused strong feelings among his contemporaries. This retrospective will emphasise the painter’s easy style and the breadth of his preferred subjects, revealing his love for horses and hunting, his attachment to the Napoleonic saga and military exploits, his fondness for Romantic literature and Lord Byron, and for depicting his family background. A talented painter, Horace Vernet shone in all genres, especially portraiture. The exhibition will showcase many of his portraits kept in private collections. Vernet also quickly gained a degree of celebrity, which led him to pose for several colleagues. The exhibition will present some of these portraits by his contemporaries.

This retrospective will chart the painter’s entire career, delving deep into the 19th century of Horace Vernet. For the occasion, the canvases in the Africa rooms will also be available to view.

© Sebastien Giles

CURATION

This exhibition will be curated by Valérie Bajou, General Curator at the National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon.

Scenography
Antoine Fontaine

Selection of works

1821 — Horace Vernet

Laurent, marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr
More infos

1821 — Horace Vernet

Ferdinand-Philippe-Louis, duc de Chartres tenant un cerceau
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1864 — Alexis Witkofsky

Jean-Emile-Horace Vernet
More infos

1829 — Horace Vernet

Pie VIII porté dans la basilique de Saint-Pierre à Rome, 1829
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1825 — Horace Vernet

Anne-François-Hippolyte Boutet, dite Mademoiselle Mars
More infos

condition of Access

Access to the exhibition is included in the ticket price. The exhibition takes place during the opening hours of the Palace, in the visitor route, starting from the stone gallery on the first floor of the North wing.

In addition to the texts presented in the rooms in French and English and a brochure available at the entrance of the exhibition, various visit options are offered to accompany you in your discovery of the exhibition.

Late opening until 10:30 pm

On January 12, February 15 and 17 and March 5, take part in exceptional late opening to discover the Horace Vernet exhibition during winter evenings that may well hold a few surprises for you... 

These evenings, accessible with a dedicated ticket at 13 euros, allow you to visit the Château's History Gallery and the Horace Vernet exhibition by night.

 Opening hours
  • Time-stamped access in 30-minute slots starting at 5:30 p.m.
  • Last ticketing slot at 9pm
  • Last access at 9:30pm
  • Areas close at 10:30pm

Late opening - « Horace Vernet » exhibition

Discover the exhibition dedicated to Horace Vernet during exceptional mid-winter late openings with a few additional surprises…

13 €

Buy

Late opening - « Horace Vernet » exhibition

Discover the exhibition dedicated to Horace Vernet during exceptional mid-winter late openings with a few additional surprises…
13 €
Read more
Late opening - « Horace Vernet » exhibition

Discover the exhibition dedicated to Horace Vernet during exceptional mid-winter late openings with a few additional surprises…

This retrospective retraces the painter’s whole career and will immerse you in the 19th century of Horace Vernet through some 200 works. The paintings in the Africa rooms will be on display specially for the occasion.

Painter Horace Vernet invites you on a journey from his Parisian studio to Italy and the East. A multi-skilled artist, Vernet drew inspiration from literature, through romantic works, and contemporary events and received prestigious orders from both Charles X and Louis-Philippe. He made some of the finest paintings in the Historic Galleries over a period of nearly 13 years.

This ticket grants you access to the gallery of the history of the Palace and the exhibition during late openings only, in the half-hour following the chosen time slot (exhibition closes at 10pm).

Rates

13 € Buy

The late-opening on January 12 will be hosted by students from the Ecole Normale Supérieure, who will be on hand to provide mediation, and by student musicians from the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional Versailles GrandParc, who will evoke the intimate, spectacular and exotic atmospheres of Vernet's paintings.

Musicians from the CRR will also be playing on the evening of 15 February, when a guided tour (in French) of the exhibition will be offered.

On 17 February, enjoy a guided tour (in French) of the exhibition.

On 5 March, attend the mock trial of Napoleon III in the auditorium of the Palace, and listen to readings by literature students from the UVSQ during the exhibition tour.

audio tour

The audio tour of the exhibition is available on the audioguide and on the mobile app.

We recommend that you download the application before you arrive and then launch it to load the audio tour in advance.

Brochure

Download the brochure

Practical informations

  • The exhibition will be held during the low season. Please check the opening times for the Palace. 
  • The last admission during will be at 4.45 pm.
  • Book a “Palace” ticket or a “Passport” ticket to access the whole exhibition (including those eligible for free admission).

Palace ticket

This ticket guarantees access to the palace of Versailles. Book...
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This ticket guarantees access to the palace of Versailles. Book online and enter to the Palace in the half hour following the chosen time.

The Passport guarantees access to the Estate of Versailles (Palace, Estate of Trianon and their Gardens).

Tickets can also be purchased on site subject to availability.

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Rates

21 € Buy

Palace ticket

This ticket gives you access to the Palace.
21 €
Read more
Palace ticket

This ticket guarantees access to the palace of Versailles. Book online and enter to the Palace in the half hour following the chosen time.

The Passport guarantees access to the Estate of Versailles (Palace, Estate of Trianon and their Gardens).

Tickets can also be purchased on site subject to availability.

Rates

21 € Buy

Passport

Admission to the whole Estate on an individual visit:

The main visits in the Palace of Versailles: the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, Louis XV's...
Read more

Admission to the whole Estate on an individual visit:

  • The main visits in the Palace of Versailles: the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, Louis XV's daughters Apartments and exhibitions
  • The Trianon Estate: the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet (Marie-Antoinette's Estate)
  • The Gallery of Coaches and the gardens

 

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24 € Book

24 € except on Musical Fountains

Show and Musical Gardens days

32 € on Musical Fountains Show

and Musical Gardens days

Passport

Admission to the whole Estate on an individual visit
24 €
Read more
Passport

Admission to the whole Estate on an individual visit:

  • The main visits in the Palace of Versailles: the State Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, Louis XV's daughters Apartments and exhibitions
  • The Trianon Estate: the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and the Queen's Hamlet (Marie-Antoinette's Estate)
  • The Gallery of Coaches and the gardens

 

24 € Book

24 € except on Musical Fountains

Show and Musical Gardens days

32 € on Musical Fountains Show

and Musical Gardens days

 

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