Rebel Princess: The Duchess of Berry at the center of an exhibition at the Domaine de Sceaux

Marie-Caroline, born in the kingdom of Naples, held the title of Princess of the Two Sicilies. Through her family and her marriage, she was connected to the royal houses of France and Italy. She played a pivotal role in the Vendéan and Chouan uprisings, aiming to topple the July Monarchy and restore the French throne to her dynasty. Ambitious, proud, a keen admirer of fashion and travel, and a major patron of the arts: Marie-Caroline was a vividly painted figure!

The Domaine de Sceaux invites us to Rediscover this defining 19th-century figure, thanks to an unprecedented historical exhibition. Running from September 13, 2026 to February 14, 2027, inside the château, visitors can admire the The Rebel Princess, the Duchess of Berry, as beloved as she was controversial among her peers...

This exhibition brings together around 130 works, including paintings, sculptures, period furniture and graphic arts... Through the course of the display, visitors discover the woman whose captivating life left a mark on French history.

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The Neapolitan princess hails from a junior branch of the House of Bourbon. At 18, Marie-Caroline is sent to France: she is to marry Louis XVIII’s nephew, and the young couple’s mission is to produce an heir to the French throne. The Duke and Duchess of Berry go on to have several children, among them Henri d'Artois, the Count of Chambord and a claimant to the throne.

Yet the 19th century in France was truly turbulent... Wars, assassinations, regime shifts: the life of the Duchess of Berry doesn’t unfold the way she had imagined. She fights to hold on to her status, moves with the political headlines of the moment, asserts her tastes at court, takes an interest in the arts and letters, and even engineers insurrections... This life of contrasts has earned both admiration and disdain from polite society.

The duchess was an intelligent woman with a strong character. The Domaine de Sceaux presents her portrait in an unprecedented exhibition , which should appeal to history enthusiasts.