Historically, horse riding has played a major role in the emancipation of women. From the Renaissance onwards, equestrian costumes – borrowed from men’s wardrobes or created from scratch – enabled the women soon to be known as “Amazons” to question their place in society. The exhibition invites the public to discover the story of these women, whose strength and beauty have often been fantasized and misunderstood.
Featuring exceptional loans from French and European institutions, the exhibition includes works from the Petit Palais, BnF, Musée d’Orsay, Musée Carnavalet, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Mucem and Muséon Arlaten, as well as several British and Swedish museums.
Highlights include the 17thᵉ century saddle of Queen Christine of Sweden, known as the “Amazon of the North”, and equestrian portraits of illustrious women from the court of Louis XIV, brought together for the first time in nearly 350 years. From the Grande Mademoiselle to Marie Leszczynska, to drawings by Degas and Constantin Guys, works and garments converse across the centuries without forgetting one of the most famous Amazons of the XIXᵉ century: the Empress Eugénie.
Over a hundred works trace the evolution of Amazon fashion, from the Renaissance to contemporary creation. Long perceived as a challenge to convention, the Amazon habit is gradually establishing itself as an elegant and practical piece, nourished by the know-how of tailors and the materials of the men’s wardrobe, far beyond the rides and hunts.
In Arles and the Camargue, this tradition was reaffirmed after the Second World War, when women dared to appear as Amazons at traditional festivals. More recently, in 2001, women from gardian families joined forces to form the Confrérie Antique des Gardians de Camargue, developing shows and demonstrations in amazon. Today, the practice is enjoying a new boom among young girls, and is taught from the age of 7 in certain Camargue riding schools.
The Musée de la Mode et du Costume has entrusted the scientific curatorship to Valerio Zanetti, Doctor of History and specialist in women’s equestrian practices. A catalog, enriched by international contributions, accompanies the exhibition, as does a symposium announced on the museum’s website.
Join us in Arles on May 22, 2026, for a galloping journey through the land of the Amazons!
