Principal charms

"We want to portray the overall image of the Grimaldis through these diverse artifacts," says Thomas Fouilleron, curator of the exhibition. "However, we also care about the individual characters of the monarchs."

After taking over the fortress of Monaco in the late 13th century, the Grimaldis established their territory in the mid-14th century before eventually declaring itself a monarchy in 1612.

"Monaco may be small, but it's a European monarchy with a complete set of royal rituals," Fouilleron says. "People can grasp the bigger picture about European dynasties by looking at us."

A tapestry from the 17th century woven with the coat of arms of the House of Gramildi is among the key exhibits showing the early history of the monarchy and its alliance with France.

Portraits of the princes of Monaco like Honore II (1571-1662), Antonie I (1661-1731), Charles III (1818-1889) are not just important historical references but also provide some of the show's artistic highlights.

The same situation is true about Monaco's architecture. The French influence is apparent in a painting from 1732 which shows a bird's-eye view of the prince's palace of Monaco. "French culture was highly advocated at that time," the curator says. "The prince would have been pleased if someone had told him: 'Your palace looks just like Versailles.'"