From 22 May to 20 September 2026
Exhibition curators – Valerio Zanetti & Clément Trouche
The exhibition «Amazons! Horsewomen and Fashion Icons» opens its doors at the Museum of Fashion and Costume in Arles, from 22 May to 20 September 2026.
At the heart of its new Arles museum, Fragonard traces the history of women's equestrian costumes in Europe and their influence on fashion, from the Renaissance to the present day. The exhibition shows how horse riding contributed to the emancipation of women: by borrowing from the male wardrobe or creating new silhouettes, «Amazons» progressively challenged their place in society.
Bringing together exceptional loans from French, British and Swedish museums, the exhibition features over a hundred works: portraits, drawings, saddles, costumes and accessories. Among the major pieces are the saddle of Queen Christina of Sweden and several portraits of famous amazons, such as those of La Grande Mademoiselle or Empress Eugénie. The works dialogue with the clothing of their time to reveal the evolution of this fashion, which over time became a symbol of elegance and female freedom.
The exhibition also focuses on the Camargue, where side-saddle riding is enjoying a strong revival today. Once exclusively for men, this practice has been taken up again by women *gardianes* (cowgirls) and riders, to the extent that it is now taught from childhood in some Camargue riding schools.
The scientific curatorship is overseen by Valerio Zanetti, a specialist in female equestrian practices, who here shares over ten years of research. The exhibition, accompanied by a catalogue and a conference, invites the public to discover a little-known chapter of Western history from 22 May 2026 in Arles.
