The moment Donald Trump moved into the Oval Office, he replaced the subdued maroon draping with gaudy gold curtains, in keeping with his longstanding preference for the kind of gilded decor that exudes opulence.

A Canberra scholar has been studying the parallels between with the interior styling of Mr Trump and that of Louis XIV, the French king who built Versailles.



The seat of power for the French nobility from Louis XIV's accession in 1661 until the French Revolution in 1789, the 700-room palace is a study in ostentatious wealth.

Many original items from the palace are on display at the NGA as part of its current exhibition.

Dr Robert Wellington, a scholar of Versailles style and a lecturer in art history at the Australian National University, said the US President's penchant for glittering decor in the aristocratic French style was all part of the Trump brand.

"If you make the right deal, if you do well in business, you can live like a king," he said.

Dr Wellington will present his work at a conference at the National Gallery of Australia (NGA) this weekend.

Experts from around the world have come to the NGA to discuss the art of the Ancien Regime (French for "old regime"), as part of the gallery's exhibition on Versailles.

When President Trump took office, much of the White House was fitted out with gold curtains. ( Reuters: Kevin Lamarque )

The US President has long been disposed to glittering decor. His Manhattan apartment is decked out in golden furniture, and he reportedly spent $7 million on gilding in the ballroom at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago.

But while the decor references Versailles, it's more style than substance.

"Whereas in the past in the 19th century in America the rich industrialists bought antiques — they loved French Ancien Regime antiques — Donald Trump isn't buying antiques," Dr Wellington said.

"He's not buying the real thing, but he's spending a lot of money," he said.

"It is kitsch ... our traditional definition of kitsch is 'high art bought low' and in a sense it's bought low, it's not very good taste, but it is handmade and very expensive," he says.

The golden touch

Furniture from the Pallace of Versailles bears parallels to those President Trump has a penchant for. ( Supplied: National Gallery of Australia )

Dr Wellington says President Trump's pattern of using gold throughout his properties is part of a long tradition of people copying the style of the French aristocracy.

"People who are trying to create social position for themselves through the display of opulent things," he said.

Donald Trump and his family are interviewed at his New York apartment. ( Facebook: Donald J Trump )

"They don't have family history [of wealth] but they try and create a sense of history for themselves by quoting the style of the French nobles, that is, the style of aristocracy."

President Trump is not alone in choosing to decorate in the style of Versailles.

There's a 'Chateau de Louis XIV' built in France by a Saudi-born property developer.

There's also an American copy of Versailles built in Florida by businessman David Siegal.

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was a fan of palatial decor including gold leaf, and Muammar Gaddafi favoured gilded chairs.

Protectionism and self-promotion

Painting of the Court of Versailles, on display at the National Gallery of Australia. ( Supplied: National Gallery of Australia )

Dr Wellington points out that while President Trump is inspired by the luxury of Versailles, comparisons between him and King Louis XIV are unwise.

"Louis XIV was far from a 20th century capitalist - he wasn't promoting himself," he said.

"He was a representation of France."

Dr Wellington says despite their shared tastes, comparisons shouldn't be drawn between Louis XIV and Trump. ( Supplied: National Gallery of Australia )

The so-called Sun King built Versailles in a way that would benefit the French economy.

Dr Wellington points out that Trump doesn't use an American style to promote himself.

"He's spending a lot of money for display but perhaps without an understanding of the histories of design that he's quoting," he said.

Of course the absolute power of the Ancien Regime ended in bloody revolution and the overthrow of the monarchy.

But many objects and even phrases associated with power in our time stem from the era of Versailles.

For instance, the term 'bigwig', meaning someone who is powerful or even pompous, has its origins in the court of Louis XIV.

A somewhat contemptuous term today, it entered common parlance because French aristocrats literally wore large wigs.

Fashion historian Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell is presenting her research on dress at the Court of Louis XIV at the NGA's conference.

"Big hair went along with big power," she said.

"To have long locks like Louis was like driving a red Ferrari.

"Hair made men and women difficult to ignore."

From his golden locks to his golden decor, the US President's showy style adheres to a long tradition of expressing privilege and power through all that glimmers.