The French royal court was never known for subtlety. Louis XIV had mile-high hair and dubbed himself the Sun King after his idol, Apollo, the sun god. In the late 17th century, he expanded the palace of Versailles, which today remains a symbol of lavish, unrestrained (and mostly gold) decorative extravagance. Prepare to be blinded at “Royal Treasures from the Louvre: Louis XIV to Marie-Antoinette,” on view at the Legion of Honor through March 2013. Read More