Marie Antoinette, one of European history’s most infamous queens, is the subject of the newest George Stuart Historical Figures® exhibition Let’em Eat Cake, opening at the Museum of Ventura County on November 20 and running through February 24, 2013.

The exhibit of one-quarter life-size sculpture of Antoinette and other personalities from the French Revolution sheds light on her extravagant life and tragic end by the guillotine.

Accompanying monologues by historian and artist George Stuart include Queen of France on Tuesday, January 15 at 2:00 p.m., and The Mob at the Gates! on Tuesday, February 12 at 2:00 pm. in the museum’s Martin V. and Martha K. Smith Pavilion. Admission to each monologue is $15 for the general public, $10 for museum members, and includes entry to all museum exhibits. For reservations, call (805) 653-0323 x 7.

The future queen of France began life as the Austrian princess Maria Antonia, who entered into an arranged marriage with the French Dauphin in 1770. She became Queen Marie Antoinette in 1774. Apparently a doting mother to her four children, Antoinette was initially known for her simplicity, but soon had a reputation for extravagance and excess which contributed to her unpopularity with the French public. The famous words “let’em eat cake” were probably falsely attributed to her, but Antoinette’s seeming indifference to the hardships endured by her subjects was not overlooked during her trial before a Revolutionary Tribunal. She was subsequently guillotined; of her family, only a daughter survived the revolution.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the exhibitions is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17, members and children under 6 are free. . Paid events include free admission to galleries. The first Sundays of every month are free general admission for the public. For more museum information go to www.venturamuseum.org or call 805-653-0323.