5.3.3. DETOUR: THE FRENCH MONARCHY'S LASTING ÉCLAT

FRENCH CULTURE'S FIRST EMISSARY, ANNE BOLEYN

She had grown up in the court of Francis I where her father was England's ambassador, and her French fashions and repartees stood out in the rustic English court.

(In 1522) 

               By Hans Holbein (1532-1536) / zoom

The only portrait that is realistic, in spite of the bright blond hair.

Skinny Anne was the opposite of the voluptuous beauties that were admired, but she had absorbed the sophistication, allure and flirtatious conversation of Francois's court. Henry VIII, brilliant and cultivated, composed motets in Latin to sing with her.

Their love letters are in French. 

-- Une reine pas très catholique ("An Unconventional Queen") by Dominique Muller, 1996

 

The modern aura:

• A chauffeur's daughter (Audrey Hepburn) returns to Connecticut after two  years in Paris:

                                                                                     Sabrina by Billy Wilder, 1955

• "Christine Lagarde's Power Dressing" 

Forbes, 2011

• The Denver Kiwanis club makes a French dinner a raffle prize:

    Photos by host John Kelly 

French-flag cupcakes

The award was a dinner of French cuisine at the home of a member who had learned French, come regularly to Paris and followed classes in French cooking. 

 "Art de vivre"

 harks back to the court.

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Next,
5.3.4. 

French Baroque's sobriety