Versailles is known in world history as the place where the conclusion and signing of such famous documents as the Treaty of Paris (1783), the Treaty of Versailles, known as the official end of the First World War, took place.
This city is also known throughout the world for its Palace of Versailles and was considered the de facto capital of France in the period 1682-1789. Today Versailles is a fairly respectable place locality Paris and an important administrative and judicial center. It is located in the western part of the French capital, only 17 km from the center of Paris and is the prefecture of the Yvelines department.
History of the King's Apartments at Versailles
Versailles becomes the unofficial capital of France in May 1682, when King Louis XIV moves the court and the entire government here for permanent residence. In September 1715, after the death of the Sun King, Versailles loses its status as the entire court returns to Paris. But already in June 1722, the young King Louis XV returned to his apartments in Versailles, and this city again found itself at the center of state events. During the uprising of the Paris Commune, the current government takes refuge in Versailles (period 1871 - 1879).
The city became a prefecture of the Seine-et-Oise department in 1790. By 1960, the department already had two million residents. By 1968, Versailles had already become the administrative center of the Yvelines department, which was the largest part of the former Seine-et-Oise.
Today, the city’s main purpose is the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese, which was founded in 1790. This diocese reports directly to the Archbishop of Paris. Modern Versailles is also known as an educational center. Thus, since 1972, a national academy of the Ministry of National Education has been organized here. This university is the largest in terms of the number of students; it also controls schools and universities in the western suburbs of Paris. The city is located on a plateau, the height of which is about 140 meters above sea level. At the same time, the highest point in Paris is at an altitude of 33 meters above sea level. Versailles is surrounded by wooded hills, on the north side are the forests of Marly and Fosse-Rapose, on the south - the forests of Satori and Meudone.
The total area of the city is more than 26 square meters. km (equal to a quarter of the area of Paris).
General information about the King's Apartments at Versailles
Tourists, when sightseeing in Paris, take great pleasure in visiting Versailles, located in the suburbs of Paris. It was there that one of the most scandalous French kings, Louis XIV, lived and had fun. The idea of building the Palace of Versailles arose from the king while visiting the palace in Vaux-le-Vicomte, which belonged to the Minister of Finance Nicolas Fouquet.
Construction began in 1661 and was aimed at rebuilding a small hunting palace near Paris into the most luxurious residence of kings in Europe. The Palace of Versailles could accommodate up to 20 thousand people. The architect Louis Leveaux envisioned large buildings, large terraces with access directly to the park, spacious squares, galleries, gardens and fountains. And Andre Le Nôtre worked on the landscape park of the Palace of Versailles. For fun royal family symmetrical paths, perfect lawns, beautiful flower beds, hedges and sparkling fountains were created.
The luxury of the palace interiors was created under the leadership of Charles Lebrun. The royal family's apartments were located on the first floor of the main building near Marble Square. The king's official receptions and the daily life of the court took place in the rest of the palace. The entire life of the Sun King was spent in gilding, stucco, crystal chandeliers, tapestries and statues. Separate halls received the names of the Olympian gods. Thus, the Hall of Venus was quite famous, where, among multi-colored marble, there is a statue that depicts Venus himself. Louis XIV. The Mirror Gallery attracts close attention, in which along a 70-meter-long wall, opposite each window, there are 17 large mirrors, in which the reflection of glare of light gives a dazzling effect.
The construction of the king's apartments at Versailles was completed very quickly, despite the scale of the project. Thanks to huge financial investments, “seasoned” with the king’s impatience, the implementation was so accelerated that just 15 years later the royal family was able to move into the palace. As mentioned above, construction began in 1661, and six years later the Grand Canal was dug. The next stage of construction was in 1671, when Lebrun began decorating the palace. And already in 1682, the king and his wife moved to Versailles. After the death of the Sun King in 1715, the court abandoned this residence. Only 57 years later, the young King Louis XV decided to return to the Palace of Versailles. Later, Louis XVI lived here with Marie Antoinette. However, during the Great French Revolution, the royal family was forced to leave it. And only a few decades later (in 1883) Louis Philippe transformed Versailles into the largest museum in the world.
Current state of the King's Apartments
In 2006, a population census was carried out, which counted the number of people living in the city as about 89.5 thousand people. If you look at earlier censuses, you can see the recorded figure for 1975 – 94.1 thousand people. In 1789, during the revolution, the authorities of Versailles proposed a convention according to which Versailles should be renamed the “Cradle of Liberty”. But the majority of the population opposed this idea, and the name of the city remained unchanged.
Structure of the King's Apartments at Versailles
So, the King’s apartments are represented by a suite of rooms in the Palace of Versailles, which served as living quarters for Louis XIV. These rooms were located in the ancient part of the palace with windows overlooking the Marble Court, and under Louis XIII they were intended for the queen.
Since these rooms were inconvenient for the Sun King, immediately after the death of Maria Theresa, he initiated work to rebuild the King's Great Chambers and the Gallery of Mirrors (1684). During the reign of his successors (Louis XV and Louis XVI), the King's Apartments were used as daily work quarters.
Since its construction, the enfilade of the King's Apartments had eight rooms and began with the Queen's Staircase. Somewhat later (1701) the total number of rooms was reduced by one, and later, in 1755, it was reduced by another. The loggia that led to the King's Apartments is decorated with marble panels and is illuminated by only two windows that overlook the Royal Court. To improve lighting flights of stairs, the southern wall opposite the windows was partially removed and a loggia was formed from the vestibule. Towards the end of the reign of Louis XIV, the Loggia and the Queen's Staircase simultaneously led to the Royal Apartments, the Queen's Great Apartments, and also to the apartments of the king's favorite Madame de Maintenon.
The guard hall was needed to disperse the royal guards. At the very beginning of construction, the walls of the room were decorated with leather, as well as with the work of Joseph Parrocel “Battle of Leze, September 18, 1691”, which hangs above the fireplace. The main purpose of the room is reflected by wooden benches, camp beds and screens used by the guards. Every Monday a table was set up here, covered with a velvet tablecloth, at which the King received petitions from his subordinates.
The king's bedroom was one of her apartments until the queen's death. However, in 1684, Louis XIV added this room to his apartments.
After 1701, when the king's bedroom was combined with a second antechamber, the new room was called the Antechamber with an oval window, since there was an oval window on the south vault.
Salon of the Bolshoi Cutlery or The first antechamber had six windows, three of which looked out onto the Marble Court, and the other three into the Queen's Court. When decorating this room, Parrosel’s paintings were used (above the fireplace there is his painting entitled “The Battle of Arbbelah”). After the queen's death, the table was served in this room only if the king dined alone. One chair with armrests was placed near the table set in front of the fireplace, and musicians were located opposite the fireplace on the provided dais. However, in the 18th century this scene was dismantled.
Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
| Room layout King's Apartments |
|
| Explanations for the diagram King's Apartments | |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 |
Hall of the Guard |
| 3 |
First antechamber (Large Cutlery Salon) |
| 4 |
Antechamber with oval window(before Second antechamber / Bassano antechamber And King's Bedroom) |
| 5 |
Louis XIV's bedroom(before Salon of the King) |
| 6 |
Council Cabinet(before Cabinet of mirrors And Thermal cabinet) |
| A |
Marble courtyard |
| B |
Royal Court |
King's Apartments represent a suite of rooms in the Palace of Versailles that served as living quarters for Louis XIV. With windows facing Marble Court, these rooms are located in the oldest part of the palace on the site of the rooms that were allocated to the Queen in the castle from the time of Louis XIII. Mainly due to inconvenience The King's Great Chambers and the construction of the Gallery of Mirrors, Louis XIV began rebuilding these premises for himself shortly after the death of Maria Theresa in 1684. During the reign of Louis XV and Louis XVI King's Apartments turned into everyday work spaces.
Initially, enfilade King's Apartments contained eight rooms and started from Queen's Stairs. After 1701 the number of rooms was reduced to seven; and in 1755 the number of rooms was reduced to six.
Loggia
Loggia leading to the King's Apartments decorated with marble panels and illuminated by two windows facing the Royal Court. In 1701, in order to increase the lighting of the staircases, the south wall opposite the windows was opened; Thus, a loggia was created from the vestibule. At the end of the reign of Louis XIV, the Queen's Staircase and the Loggia led simultaneously to King's Apartments, The Queen's Great Apartments and to the apartments of Madame de Maintenon, with whom the King was secretly married after the death of Queen Maria Theresa.
Hall of the Guard
Hall of the Guard served to accommodate King's Guards. Early decoration of the room included wall coverings in leather with embossed gilding and a battle scene by Joseph Parrocel, “The Battle of Leuze, September 18, 1691,” hanging above the fireplace. The decoration of the room is complemented by two large chandeliers decorated with the King’s monogram. The practical purpose of the room was emphasized by wooden benches, camp beds and screens, which were used by the guards in the room. On Mondays, a table was set up in this room, covered with a velvet tablecloth with gold fringe, at which Louis XIV personally accepted petitions submitted by his subordinates.
First antechamber
In this room, one of the most outrageous events in the life of Versailles during the reign of the Sun King took place. In 1691, fringe from the curtains of the Salon of Mars and part of an embroidered bedspread from the Salon of Mercury were stolen. While serving dessert, through one of the windows facing Marble courtyard, a package flew into the room and fell on the King’s table. Louis XIV said only “I believe this is my fringe.”
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| “Cavalrymen quenching their thirst after battle” circa 1687 Joseph Parrocel (1646–1704) South Wall | “Cavalry Skirmish” Joseph Parrocel, western part of the southern wall | “Cavalry attacks the ramparts of the city” circa 1687 Joseph Parrocel, eastern part of the southern wall | “Alexander the Great slaying Darius III at the Battle of Arbela” circa 1687 by Joseph Parrocel, above the fireplace | “A cavalryman leads the prisoners after the capture of the city” circa 1687 Joseph Parrocel, north wall | “Cavalry Charge and Fallen Rider” circa 1687 Joseph Parrocel, north wall |
Antechamber with oval window
Second antechamber And King's Bedroom were formerly part of the Queen's apartments, but in 1684, after the death of the Queen, Louis XIV annexed this room to his apartments.
In Second antechamber the courtiers were waiting for permission to enter to participate in the ceremony Morning exit of the King V King's Bedchamber located further down. This room is also known as Antechamber Bassano in honor of several paintings by the Italian artist Jacopo Bassano placed on the walls. Above the mantel hung the famous work “ Noli me tangere s” by Dutch artist Lambert Sustris. In 1701 Second antechamber And King's Bedroom were merged into Antechamber with oval window , which became the main antechamber in front of the King's new bedroom.
 |
 |
| Noli me tangere works by Lambert Sustris, second half of the 16th century | Esther fainting works by Paolo Cagliari, called Veronese, last quarter of the 16th century |
The name of this room comes from the oval window located on the southern arch of the ceiling. Salon with oval window decorated with a frieze with gilded stucco, which decorates the vaults of the ceiling of the room, the background of which is a lattice structure depicting groups of dancing putti. This decoration of the vaults became a harbinger of new artistic trends of the 18th century and a change from the formalist style used in the design of the King's Great Apartments and the Mirror Gallery to a less strict style, preceding Louis XV style. Louis XIV did not save money on decorating this room. Mirrors and hangings of Veronese's Esther Fainted and Judith with the Head of Holofernes, as well as gilded furnishings, make the room the most luxurious room in King's Apartment.
Louis XIV's bedroom
In 1701 on the spot Salon King was built Louis XIV's bedroom . The former room underwent numerous renovations during the reign of Louis XIV, the most significant taking place in 1678 when the west windows facing the terrace were closed due to the construction of the Gallery of Mirrors. After construction Bedrooms of Louis XIV in 1701, this room became the center of life at the Court.
 |
 |
 |
| Mary Magdalene circa 1628-1629 by Guido Reni | Saint Cecilia Domenichino | King David playing the harp first quarter of the 17th century. Domenichino's work |
The western wall of the room became an alcove - a part of the room fenced off with a balustrade in which the bed was located. The ornaments used in the design of the alcove in the form of a stucco wreath and scrolls, as well as lattice sculptures, anticipate in many respects the style of the era Regencies, which was in fashion from 1715 to 1723. The bed is topped with a carved work by Nicolas Cousteau Brilliant France, complemented by two carved works Glory François Lespignol, placed in the sails of the arch's vault. This is the only place of the Palace that was not remodeled by the heirs of Louis XIV, who preserved the masterpieces of the royal collection, inserted into wood paneling walls The bedroom retained its original decor even after the Revolution.
The present brocade fabric on the alcove walls and in the bed decoration was re-woven as a Fifth Republic undertaking to restore the Palace of Versailles. The original alcove and bed drapery were restored in 1736; and in 1785, Louis XVI ordered the burning of brocade fabric, from which over 60 kilograms of gold were obtained. The bed's current drapery, although period-correct, is not a copy of the brocade that originally hung in Louis XIV's Bedchamber. Due to a lack of archival information at the time of the project, it was decided to use a drapery sample winter tapestry from the Queen's bedroom. After the restoration project began, original examples were discovered; and since part of the project had already been completed, it was decided to use winter tapestry Queens. On September 1, 1715, Louis XIV died in this room.
From all the rooms King's Apartments this room seemed to best reflect the personal tastes of Louis XIV. In addition to the collection precious stones, there were works by Nicolas Poussin and Giovanni Lanfranco, as well as a harpsichord in a painted case. The personal character of this room was emphasized by the fact that Louis XIV ruled France from this room. Councils were held here, writers who elevated glory The Sun King, as well as private audiences, were most often given in this room.
The last room King's Apartments was Thermal cabinet– thanks to the design, the main element of which was 20 germs – which is also known as Wig cabinet, since the wigs of Louis XIV were kept here. In addition to the gilded herms decorating the wall, the doors were covered with mirrors. The room served the King as a wardrobe, where he could change his shirt, wig and hat; and this could happen up to 4 times a day. In the evenings, Louis XIV gathered his children, other members of his family, and some courtiers in this room.
Cabinet of mirrors And Wig cabinet ceased to exist in 1755, when Louis XV ordered the expansion and re-decoration of the meeting room for the Council. This is exactly the updated premises we see today.
In 1748, for installation on the third floor of the newly built Cabinet of the King, Louis XV decided to lower the ceiling of the Cabinet of Mirrors by about 1 meter. The new dimensions of the room made it necessary to re-decorate it. A year later it was installed new fireplace, and the former, dating from the time of Louis XIV, was sent to the Compiegne Palace. In 1755, during the arrangement of the terrace in Deer yard, Louis XV decided to expand the Council Room by adding the Cabinet of Wigs. This extended room was designed by the architect Gabriel, and decorative panels sculpted by Jules-Antoine Rousseau. The stucco on the decorative panels depicts various government departments: military trophies and peacetime relics, symbols of the army, navy, justice and regalia of the monarchy.
Write a review on the article "Apartments of the King (Versailles)"
Notes
- Felibien, 58; Piganiol, 118; Verlet, 209.
- The Battle of Leuze was a battle won by the French cavalry during the Nine Years' War.
- Felibien, 59; Piganiol, 118; Verlet, 209-210.
- In 1699, during the construction of apartments for the grandson of Louis XIV - the Duke of Burgundy - one of the southern windows was closed and a door appeared in its place.
- Verlet, 210.
- Piganiol, 118–19.
- Felibien, 338.
- Verlet, 162.
- Verlet, 211.
- Piganiol, 119.
- Kimball (1943), 50–61.
- “Judith with the Head of Holofernes” was damaged by fire in the 1905 fire at the Museum of Fine Arts in Caen. Source
- Felibien, 339; Verlet, 212.
- Verlet, 213.
- Félibien, 60–61.
- The central axis of the royal domain runs exactly through the center of this room.
- Baillie, 169–99.
- Felibien, 61
- Verlet, 214.
- Meyer (1989), 79–104.
- Saint-Simon, Memoirs
- Felibien, 65; Piganiol, 123–24.
- Verlet, 217.
- Felibien, 347; Verlet, 220.
- Verlet, 316.
Coordinates: 48°48′17″ n. w. / 2°07′13″ E. d.48.80472° N. w. 2.120472° E. d. / 48.80472; 2.120472
(G) (I)
The Countess liked this zeal of Natasha; In her soul, after unsuccessful medical treatment, she hoped that prayer would help her with more medicine, and although with fear and hiding it from the doctor, she agreed to Natasha’s wishes and entrusted her to Belova. Agrafena Ivanovna came to wake Natasha at three o’clock in the morning and mostly found her no longer sleeping. Natasha was afraid to oversleep during matins. Hastily washing her face and humbly dressing in her worst dress and old mantilla, shuddering with freshness, Natasha went out into the deserted streets, transparently illuminated by the morning dawn. On the advice of Agrafena Ivanovna, Natasha fasted not in her parish, but in the church, in which, according to the devout Belova, there was a very strict and high-living priest. There were always few people in the church; Natasha and Belova took their usual place in front of the icon of the Mother of God, embedded in the back of the left choir, and a new feeling for Natasha before the great, incomprehensible, covered her when at this unusual hour of the morning, looking at the black face of the Mother of God, illuminated by candles , burning in front of him, and the morning light falling from the window, she listened to the sounds of the service, which she tried to follow, understanding them. When she understood them, her personal feeling with its nuances joined her prayer; when she did not understand, it was even sweeter for her to think that the desire to understand everything was pride, that it was impossible to understand everything, that one only had to believe and surrender to God, who at those moments—she felt—ruled her soul. She crossed herself, bowed, and when she did not understand, she only, horrified at her abomination, asked God to forgive her for everything, for everything, and to have mercy. The prayers to which she devoted herself most were prayers of repentance. Returning home in the early hours of the morning, when there were only masons going to work, janitors sweeping the street, and everyone in the houses was still sleeping, Natasha experienced a new feeling for her of the possibility of correcting herself from her vices and the possibility of a new, pure life and happiness.During the entire week during which she led this life, this feeling grew every day. And the happiness of joining or communicating, as Agrafena Ivanovna told her, joyfully playing with this word, seemed to her so great that it seemed to her that she would not live to see this blissful Sunday.
But the happy day came, and when Natasha returned from communion on this memorable Sunday, in a white muslin dress, for the first time after many months she felt calm and not burdened by the life that lay ahead of her.
The doctor who arrived that day examined Natasha and ordered her to continue the last powders that he prescribed two weeks ago.
“We must continue, morning and evening,” he said, apparently conscientiously pleased with his success. - Just please be more careful. “Be calm, Countess,” the doctor said jokingly, deftly picking up the gold in the pulp of his hand, “soon he’ll start singing and frolicking again.” The last medicine is very, very good for her. She's very refreshed.
The Countess looked at her nails and spat, returning to the living room with a cheerful face.
At the beginning of July, more and more alarming rumors about the progress of the war were spreading in Moscow: they were talking about the sovereign’s appeal to the people, about the arrival of the sovereign himself from the army to Moscow. And since the manifesto and appeal were not received before July 11, exaggerated rumors circulated about them and about the situation in Russia. They said that the sovereign was leaving because the army was in danger, they said that Smolensk had been surrendered, that Napoleon had a million troops and that only a miracle could save Russia.
On the 11th of July, Saturday, the manifesto was received, but not yet printed; and Pierre, who was visiting the Rostovs, promised to come for dinner the next day, Sunday, and bring a manifesto and an appeal, which he would get from Count Rastopchin.
This Sunday, the Rostovs, as usual, went to mass at the Razumovskys’ home church. It was a hot July day. Already at ten o'clock, when the Rostovs got out of the carriage in front of the church, in the hot air, in the shouts of the peddlers, in the bright and light summer dresses of the crowd, in the dusty leaves of the trees of the boulevard, in the sounds of music and the white trousers of the battalion marching on the march, in the thunder of the pavement and in the bright shine of the hot sun there was that summer languor, contentment and dissatisfaction with the present, which is felt especially sharply on a clear hot day in the city. In the Razumovsky church there were all the Moscow nobility, all the acquaintances of the Rostovs (this year, as if expecting something, a lot of rich families, usually traveling to the villages, remained in the city). Passing behind the livery footman, who was parting the crowd near her mother, Natasha heard the voice of a young man speaking about her in a too loud whisper:
- This is Rostova, the same...
- She’s lost so much weight, but she’s still good!
She heard, or it seemed to her, that the names of Kuragin and Bolkonsky were mentioned. However, it always seemed that way to her. It always seemed to her that everyone, looking at her, only thought about what happened to her. Suffering and fading in her soul, as always in a crowd, Natasha walked in her purple silk dress with black lace the way women can walk - the calmer and more majestic the more painful and ashamed she was in her soul. She knew and was not mistaken that she was good, but this did not please her now as before. On the contrary, this was what tormented her most recently, and especially on this bright, hot summer day in the city. “Another Sunday, another week,” she said to herself, remembering how she was here on that Sunday, “and still the same life without life, and all the same conditions in which it was so easy to live before. She’s good, she’s young, and I know that now I’m good, before I was bad, but now I’m good, I know,” she thought, “and so they pass for nothing, for no one.” best years" She stood next to her mother and exchanged words with nearby acquaintances. Natasha, out of habit, examined the ladies’ dresses, condemned the tenue [demeanor] and the indecent way of crossing herself with her hand in the small space of one lady standing nearby, again thought with annoyance that she was being judged, that she too was judging, and suddenly, hearing the sounds of the service, she was horrified by her abomination, horrified that her former purity was again lost by her.
The handsome, quiet old man served with that gentle solemnity that has such a majestic, calming effect on the souls of those praying. The royal doors closed, the curtain slowly closed; a mysterious quiet voice said something from there. Tears, incomprehensible to her, stood in Natasha’s chest, and a joyful and painful feeling worried her.
“Teach me what I should do, how I can improve forever, forever, what I should do with my life...” she thought.
The deacon came out to the pulpit, straightened it, setting it wide thumb, long hair from under the surplice and, placing a cross on his chest, loudly and solemnly began to read the words of the prayer:
- “Let us pray to the Lord in peace.”
“In peace - all together, without distinction of classes, without enmity, and united by brotherly love - let us pray,” thought Natasha.
- About the heavenly world and the salvation of our souls!
“For the peace of angels and the souls of all incorporeal creatures that live above us,” Natasha prayed.
When they prayed for the army, she remembered her brother and Denisov. When they prayed for those sailing and traveling, she remembered Prince Andrei and prayed for him, and prayed that God would forgive her for the evil that she had done to him. When they prayed for those who loved us, she prayed for her family, for her father, mother, Sonya, for the first time now understanding all her guilt before them and feeling all the strength of her love for them. When they prayed for those who hated us, she invented enemies and haters for herself in order to pray for them. She counted creditors and all those who dealt with her father among her enemies, and every time, when she thought about enemies and haters, she remembered Anatole, who had done her so much harm, and although he was not a hater, she joyfully prayed for him as for enemy. Only during prayer did she feel able to clearly and calmly remember both Prince Andrei and Anatol, as people for whom her feelings were destroyed in comparison with her feeling of fear and reverence for God. When they prayed for the royal family and for the Synod, she bowed especially low and crossed herself, telling herself that if she did not understand, she could not doubt and still loved the ruling Synod and prayed for it.
Having finished the litany, the deacon crossed the orarion around his chest and said:
- “We surrender ourselves and our lives to Christ God.”
“We will surrender ourselves to God,” Natasha repeated in her soul. “My God, I surrender myself to your will,” she thought. - I don’t want anything, I don’t desire anything; teach me what to do, where to use my will! Take me, take me! - Natasha said with touched impatience in her soul, without crossing herself, lowering her thin hands and as if expecting that an invisible force would take her and deliver her from herself, from her regrets, desires, reproaches, hopes and vices.
Several times during the service, the Countess looked back at the tender, sparkling-eyed face of her daughter and prayed to God to help her.
Unexpectedly, in the middle and not in the order of service, which Natasha knew well, the sexton brought out a stool, the same one on which kneeling prayers were read on Trinity Day, and placed it in front of the royal doors. The priest came out in his purple velvet skufia, straightened his hair and knelt down with an effort. Everyone did the same and looked at each other in bewilderment. It was a prayer just received from the Synod, a prayer for the salvation of Russia from enemy invasion.
“Lord God of hosts, God of our salvation,” the priest began in that clear, unpompous and meek voice, which is read only by spiritual Slavic readers and which has such an irresistible effect on the Russian heart. - Lord God of hosts, God of our salvation! Look now in mercy and generosity on your humble people, and kindly hear, and have mercy, and have mercy on us. Behold, the enemy has troubled your land and, although he has left the entire universe empty, has risen up against us; All these lawless people have gathered together to destroy your property, to destroy your honorable Jerusalem, your beloved Russia: desecrate your temples, dig up your altars and desecrate our shrine. How long, Lord, how long will sinners be praised? How long to use illegal power?
Lord God! Hear us praying to you: strengthen with your power the most pious, autocratic great sovereign of our Emperor Alexander Pavlovich; remember his righteousness and meekness, reward him according to his goodness, with which we, your beloved Israel, protect us. Bless his advice, undertakings and deeds; establish his kingdom with your almighty right hand and grant him victory over the enemy, as Moses did against Amalek, Gideon against Midian, and David against Goliath. Preserve his army; put the bow of the coppers on the armies that have taken up arms in your name, and gird them with strength for battle. Take a weapon and a shield, and rise up to help us, so that those who think evil against us will be ashamed and put to shame, may they be before the face of your faithful army, like dust before the face of the wind, and may your mighty angel insult and persecute them; let a net come to them that they do not know, and let their catch, having hidden it, embrace them; let them fall under the feet of your servants and be trampled underfoot by our howls. God! You will not fail to save in many and in small; You are God, let no man prevail against you.
God our father! Remember your generosity and mercies, which have existed since time immemorial: do not cast us away from your presence, abhor our unworthiness, but have mercy on us according to your great mercy and, according to the multitude of your generosity, despise our iniquities and sins. Create a pure heart in us, and renew a right spirit in our womb; Strengthen us all with faith in you, confirm us with hope, inspire us with true love for each other, arm us with unanimity for the righteous defense of possession, which you and our father gave to us, so that the rod of the wicked does not ascend to the lot of the sanctified.
Lord our God, in Him we believe and we trust in Him, do not disgrace us from the hope of your mercy and create a sign for good, so that those who hate us and our Orthodox faith will see, and be disgraced and perish; and let all countries know that your name is the Lord, and we are your people. Show us, Lord, now give us your mercy and your salvation; make the hearts of your servants glad because of your mercy; defeat our enemies, and crush them quickly under the feet of your faithful. For you are intercession, help and victory for those who trust in you, and we send glory to you, father and son and holy spirit, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen".
In the state of spiritual openness in which Natasha was, this prayer had a strong effect on her. She listened to every word about the victory of Moses against Amalek, and Gideon against Midian, and David against Goliath, and about the destruction of your Jerusalem, and asked God with that tenderness and softness with which her heart was filled; but she did not understand well what she was asking God for in this prayer. She participated with all her soul in asking for a right spirit, for the strengthening of the heart with faith, hope and for the inspiration of their love. But she could not pray to trample underfoot her enemies, when a few minutes before that she only wished to have more of them, to love them, to pray for them. But she also could not doubt the correctness of the kneeling prayer read. She felt in her soul a reverent and trembling horror of the punishment that befell people for their sins, and especially for her sins, and asked God to forgive them all and her and give them all and her peace and happiness in life . And it seemed to her that God heard her prayer.
From the day when Pierre, leaving the Rostovs and remembering Natasha’s grateful look, looked at the comet standing in the sky and felt that something new had opened up for him, the question that had always tormented him about the futility and madness of everything earthly ceased to appear to him. This scary question: For what? for what? - which had previously presented itself to him in the middle of every lesson, was now replaced for him not by another question and not by an answer to the previous question, but by a presentation of her. Whether he heard or carried on insignificant conversations, whether he read or learned about the meanness and senselessness of people, he was not horrified as before; did not ask himself why people were fussing when everything was so brief and unknown, but he remembered her in the form in which he had seen her for the last time, and all his doubts disappeared, not because she answered the questions that presented themselves to him , but because the idea of her transported him instantly to another, bright area of mental activity, in which there could be no right or wrong, to the area of beauty and love, for which it was worth living. No matter what everyday abomination presented itself to him, he said to himself:
“Well, let such and such rob the state and the tsar, and the state and the tsar give him honors; and yesterday she smiled at me and asked me to come, and I love her, and no one will ever know this,” he thought.
Pierre still went to society, drank just as much and led the same idle and absent-minded life, because, in addition to those hours that he spent with the Rostovs, he had to spend the rest of his time, and the habits and acquaintances he had made in Moscow , irresistibly attracted him to the life that captured him. But recently, when more and more alarming rumors came from the theater of war and when Natasha’s health began to improve and she ceased to arouse in him the former feeling of thrifty pity, he began to be overcome by a more and more incomprehensible anxiety. He felt that the situation in which he found himself could not last long, that a catastrophe was coming that would change his whole life, and he impatiently looked for signs of this approaching catastrophe in everything. Pierre was revealed by one of the Freemason brothers the following prophecy regarding Napoleon, derived from the Apocalypse of John the Theologian.
In the Apocalypse, chapter thirteen, verse eighteen, it is said: “Here is wisdom; Let those who have intelligence respect the number of animals: the number is human, and its number is six hundred and sixty-six.”
Versailles is a palace and park ensemble in France (French Parc et château de Versailles), the former residence of French kings in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris; center of tourism of world importance.
Versailles was built under the leadership of Louis XIV in 1661, and became a unique monument to the era of the “Sun King”, artistic architectural expression of the idea of absolutism. The leading architects are Louis Levo and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the creator of the park is Andre Le Nôtre. The ensemble of Versailles, the largest in Europe, is distinguished by its unique integrity of design and harmony architectural forms and transformed landscape. WITH late XVII century, Versailles served as a model for the ceremonial country residences of European monarchs and aristocracy, but there are no direct imitations of it.
From 1666 to 1789, before the French Revolution, Versailles was the official royal residence. In 1801 it received the status of a museum and is open to the public; since 1830, the entire architectural complex of Versailles has become a museum; In 1837, the Museum of French History opened in the royal palace. In 1979, the Palace of Versailles and its park were included in the World Heritage List. cultural heritage UNESCO. Shrouded in many legends, Versailles has become a symbol absolute monarchy Louis XIV. According to legends, the young king decided to build a new palace outside the city, since the Louvre in Paris was unsafe at that time. And since 1661, in the city of Versailles, now a suburb of Paris, Louis began the transformation of a modest hunting lodge to a sparkling palace. To do this, it was necessary to drain more than 800 hectares of swamps (the entire territory occupied by the complex), where entire forests were moved to create 100 hectares of gardens, alleys, flower beds, lakes and fountains.
The Palace of Versailles served political center France. It became home to 6,000 courtiers! Louis XIV lulled his subjects by providing lavish entertainment and rewarding them with royal favors. So Louis tried to distance himself from the political intrigues of Paris, so he created a place where the aristocracy could live under his watchful eye. The grand size of the palace and the wealth on display demonstrated the absolute power of the monarch.
Mirror Gallery (Galerie des Glaces) or Grand, the heart of the Palace of Versailles. The most majestic room, it is more than 73 meters long and about 11 meters wide. The gallery was the first to use a new architectural method of arranging 357 mirrors, all of which were installed parallel to seventeen windows. Thus, the feeling was created that the gallery on both sides had windows looking into the park. And in the evening, on the days of palace balls and audiences, the light of three thousand candles was reflected in the mirror panels.
The gallery is decorated with all kinds of vases in bronze frames, silver floor lamps and candelabra, dozens of crystal chandeliers, and flowerpots with orange trees.
According to Lebrun's design, before 1690, the Gallery of Mirrors was furnished exclusively with silver furniture. Queen's Bedchamber In 1689, by order of the king, the furniture was melted down to cover war costs. It is impossible to describe the play of light reflections when the rays of the sun, illuminating the hall, are reflected in the mirrors, dazzling the eye and amazing the imagination.
The famous room of the Palace of Versailles is, without a doubt, the Gallery of Mirrors (the original name is the Grand Gallery). Imagine, this was the first place in the world where people saw their full-length reflection! The ancient technology of glass blowing did not allow the production large mirrors. Because of this, mirrors were small and very expensive. In the Hall of Mirrors, for the first time in the world, many small mirrors were placed together. Now the guests who came to the king’s ball could see themselves in full growth! Ironically, just a few years after finishing decorating the Mirror Gallery, an alternative technology for producing mirrors appeared, and mirrors fell sharply in price.
Masterpiece of the Gallery of Mirrors at Versailles - crystal chandeliers. Previously, all the furniture in the Great Gallery was made of silver, even the stools. In 1689, all silver items were melted down to cover military expenses.
Portrait of Louis XIV by Iasinte Rigaud, 1701. According to legend, when Louis XIV was five years old, while walking through the picturesque Tuileries Garden, he looked into a puddle. The sun was reflected in it.
- I am the sun! I am the sun! - the boy shouted joyfully. From then on he was called the “Sun King”. Even in his youth, the monarch dreamed of something big, impeccable, something that would amaze all of Europe - better than the Louvre, Vincennes and Fontainebleau combined.
Louis XIV needed a period of half his life—50 years—to implement this large-scale plan. Subsequently, his successor supplemented this place with the Petit Trianon, and Louis XVI, who was executed by guillotine, added a park and a village with a dairy farm.
The royal chapel is located in the right wing of the palace. The façade of the chapel contrasts sharply with the plain geometric lines facade of the palace. Many architects opposed this architectural solution, one architect even called the chapel a “huge hearse,” but who would argue with the king!
It was here that Marie Antoinette married King Louis XVI of France. Today, symphony concerts are held from time to time in the court chapel. This chapel is the fifth chapel in Versailles and the largest royal chapel in France (apparently, there are chapels even larger than this one somewhere).
The king's bedroom was the center of life of the entire palace at Versailles. The main piece of furniture was the bed, located so that its center was the place where the rays of the three city highways converged. The king's bedroom in the palace connecting Paris with the Palace of Versailles. But the most interesting thing was that during the ritual of morning awakening, polishing and going to bed of His Majesty Louis XIV, select persons were in the bedroom, honored with the high honor of monitoring what was happening. “Gentlemen, the king has woken up!” was heard from the “holy of holies”; two servants are already serving a lace shirt, four a glass of wine. A new day began, where everyone wanted to catch a gracious word or glance from the ruler, hoping that fortune would finally smile on them...
The official dining room where Louis XIV dined every evening and other kings on special occasions. For the rest (courtiers, ministers, distant relatives) there are stools at the edges of the room. The king's meal is also a ritual that is a great honor to simply watch.
The Royal Dining Room, where the royal family held public dinners. Only members of the royal family sat at the table. Duchesses, princesses and other high-ranking persons sat on stools located slightly further away, behind them stood everyone else who wanted to gawk at the royal meal. Louis XIV held a public meal almost every day and it was quite a performance. Louis XV preferred private dinners most of the time.
The queen's large apartments. IN different time 3 queens lived here: Maria Theresa (1638-1683) - wife of Louis XIV; Maria Leshchinskaya (1703-1768) - wife of Louis XV; Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) - wife of Louis XVI. Currently, the situation in 1789 has been restored here.
Versailles was constantly being completed, absorbing more and more new sums of money. After the death of Louis XIV, his son, Louis XV, changed the buildings several more times, adding new chambers and demolishing stairs and ceilings. The palace was so gigantic, and required so many workers to maintain it, that a city naturally arose around it... Astronomical sums were spent annually on the maintenance of Versailles, which turned out to be a heavy long-term burden for the already suffering economy. Finally, the common people, unable to bear the proximity of unimaginable luxury with the abject poverty of the majority of the population, expelled the kings from Versailles, and from the end of the 18th century the palace ceased to be the administrative and political center of France. Since 1837, Versailles has been made a National Historical Museum, and today it attracts thousands of crowds of tourists from all over the world, invariably striking them with its splendor.
http://fotki.yandex.ru/users/irina-mahortova/view/658676/?page=0
Lawn trellises create a beautiful grass cover that is indispensable in recreation areas, parks and gardens. In places of active activity, for playing sports. And also for green grass cover of any areas, for decoration. In such cases, you cannot do without plastic lawn gratings, which have good drainage properties. They are fastened with special brackets and are practically invisible. will clearly explain the advantages of such gratings, as well as how to select and install them on your sites.
Versailles is the pearl of French architecture. This palace complex was designed to express all the greatness of the “Sun King” Louis XIV. The monarch allowed even commoners to visit his residence, considering it the pride of the country. But along with luxury and pomp, shortcomings were discovered in the layout of the complex. Thus, in a series of endless galleries, halls and apartments, not a single toilet was provided.
Before the reign of Louis XIV, the Louvre was the residence of French monarchs, but after some time, the “Sun King” decided to build a new palace in the suburbs of Paris. The official reason for the start of construction was the king's fear for his life. He repeatedly repeated that political intrigues did not allow him to sleep peacefully, so the residence needed to be moved away from the Parisian conspirators.
In fact, the reason was different. Having visited the housewarming party of the Minister of Finance Fouquet, Louis XIV saw a palace that was much more beautiful and luxurious than the Louvre. And monarchs don’t like it when someone demonstrates their superiority.
That same evening, Louis XIV ordered the architects Louis Levo, Jules Hardouin-Mansart and park planner André Le Nôtre to appear before him. They received the task: to create a palace of unheard-of beauty that would reflect all the greatness of the French king. This is how the history of Versailles began. And Fouquet paid for the wounded pride of Louis XIV and was arrested in the same 1661.
Louis XIV persistently focused the attention of the architects on the fact that the palace had to be built with high quality and in as soon as possible. But it didn’t work out that way. A thousand workers were sent to Versailles. Then this figure increased 30 times. When the country was not at war with anyone, soldiers were sent to build the palace. People literally worked day and night. Because of this, fatal accidents have become more frequent at night. At first this information was kept from the king, but when the truth surfaced, the monarch ordered generous compensation to be paid to the families of the victims.
Money for the construction of the complex was taken from the treasury. But gradually the flow of funds decreased. Then the king transferred this mission to the courtiers. Each nobleman who was allocated apartments in Versailles during the Nine Years' War had to independently pay for their construction.
Hasty construction and lack of funds had reverse side. Many fireplaces did not function, there were gaps on the windows and doors, which is why the wind “walked” in the rooms, and the entire palace was very cold.
But the most amazing thing is that, despite all the splendor of the palace, the architects did not design a single toilet! The king and queen had mobile booths for “these” things, and the courtiers relieved themselves wherever necessary. In the galleries of Versailles you can find many nooks and crannies. Previously, they were covered with heavy curtains. It was there that the aristocracy arranged " public toilets».
By the way, it was then that the “Sun King” issued a decree that everyone should appear at Versailles, generously drenched in perfume. Some strong “flavors” overwhelmed others. Many guides claim that in the remote corners of Versailles there is still a stench.
Work on the construction of Versailles continued after the death of Louis XIV. The maintenance of the palace cost subsequent monarchs a pretty penny. And during the French Revolution of 1789, the magnificent complex was mercilessly plundered. True, when Napoleon came to power, he planned to revive the greatness of Versailles, but he failed.
The return of the Bourbons to power had the most positive impact on the fate of the palace complex. It was restored and then turned into a museum.
Material from Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia
| Scheme Small apartments of the King as of 1693 | |
| Explanations for the diagram Small apartments of the King | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Playroom (Front for dogs) |
| 2 | King's Staircase Salon |
| 3 | King's Staircase |
| 4 | Cabinet of Paintings |
| 5 | Cabinet of Shells (Cabinet of Books) |
| 6 | Oval salon |
| 7 | The first salon of the Little Gallery |
| 8 | Small gallery |
| 9 | Second salon of the Little Gallery |
| 10 | Cabinet of Medals |
| 11 | Staircase of Ambassadors |
| 12 | King's Court |
| A-F | Great chambers of the King |
| a-d | a) wig room; b) wardrobe; c) stairs; d) passage to the Apollo Salon |
 Scheme Small apartments of the King as of 1740
|
|
| Explanations for the diagram Small apartments of the King | |
|---|---|
| 1 | King's Staircase |
| 2 | Front for dogs |
| 3 | Cabinet with Clock |
| 4 | Louis XV's bedroom |
| 5 | Interior cabinet |
| 6 | Oval salon |
| 7 | Cabinet of Books; Office with alcove |
| 8 | Small gallery |
| 9 | Cabinet of Medals |
| 10 | Staircase of Ambassadors |
| I | Deer Court (King's Court) |
| II | Patio |
| A-F | Great chambers of the King |
| a-h | a) wig room; b) a separate office of the King; c) cabinet of chairs; d) stairs; e) cabinet of gold; f) corridor; g) bath room; h) bathroom |
 Scheme Small apartments of the King as of 1760
|
|
| Explanations for the diagram Small apartments of the King | |
|---|---|
| 1; 1a | Bedroom of Louis XV; 1a wardrobe |
| 2 | Cabinet with Clock |
| 3 | Front for Dogs |
| 4 | King's Staircase |
| 5 | |
| 6 | Pantry |
| 7 | Interior cabinet |
| 8 | Back office |
| 9 | Madame Adelaide Apartments |
| A-F | Great chambers of the King |
| I | Deer Yard |
| II | Patio |
| a-h | a) Council meeting salon; b) grinding cabinet Ivory; c) cabinet of chairs; d) stairs; e) cabinet of gold; f) corridor; g) Epernon staircase; h) terrace |
 Scheme Small apartments of the King as of 1789
|
|
| Explanations for the diagram Small apartments of the King | |
|---|---|
| 1; 1a | Bedroom of Louis XV; wardrobe |
| 2 | Cabinet with Clock |
| 3 | Front for dogs |
| 4 | King's Staircase |
| 5 | |
| 6 | Pantry |
| 7 | Interior cabinet |
| 8 | Dispatch office |
| 9 | Cabinet of gold service |
| 10 | Cash desk office |
| 11 | Louis XVI Library |
| 12 | Porcelain dining room |
| 13 | Pantry |
| 14 | Gaming salon |
| I | Deer Yard |
| II | Patio |
| III | King's Cellar |
| a-f | a) Council meeting salon; b) bath room; c) stairs; d) cabinet of chairs; e) geography room; f) library and firearms cabinet; g) terrace |
| A-F | Great chambers of the King |
Small apartments of the King at the Palace of Versailles consist of a number of rooms that were at the disposal of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI. Located on the second floor of the Palace, the rooms are in the oldest part of the Palace, dating back to the era of Louis XIII. Under Louis XIV, the Royal collections of works of art and books were housed in these rooms, forming a kind of museum. Under Louis XV and Louis XVI, the rooms were converted into private living quarters. At this time, the rooms were changed and their design is one of the best examples that have come down to us. Louis XV style And Louis XVI style at the Palace of Versailles (Kimball, 1943).
The era of Louis XIV
 |
| Fragment of the image on the ceiling Salon of Abundance showing the Royal Longboat of Louis XIV, which was in Cabinet of Medals, René-Antoine Wasse (1645-1710), 1683. |
The era of Louis XV - 1740
On the return of the King and his Court to Versailles in 1722, palace life returned to the rhythm that had existed under Louis XIV. Young Louis XV occupied his great-grandfather's bedroom, King's Apartments, where ceremonies were performed daily morning exit of the King And going to bed with the same highest protocol precision, as was the case during the reign of the Sun King. However, due to the fact that in winter the room was inconvenient for living - it was difficult, if not impossible, to heat it due to its large size (90 square meters with a ceiling height of 10 meters) and windows facing east - Louis XV was forced to arrange his bedroom somewhere else (Verlet, pp. 313-314). In 1738, 27-year-old Louis XV ordered the construction new bedroom with windows facing south - Louis XV's bedroom (No. 4 on the diagram of 1740) – in place Game Salon Louis XIV, north side which was expanded due to part King's Court to construct an alcove for the bed (Verlet 1985, pp. 444-447). It was demolished the same year King's Staircase and was built new staircase slightly north of the previous location. In the place where the previous one was located King's Staircase Louis XIV was built new room, Antechamber returning from hunting (Verlet 1985, p. 442). In this room Louis XV kept some of his hunting dogs, as his great-grandfather did in Front for dogs.
Further restructuring Small apartments of the King at this time was creating Cabinet with Clock And Inner cabinet. These rooms were created after the destruction Salon of the King's Staircase And Cabinet of Paintings Louis XIV (Le Guillou, 1985).
Cabinet with Clock (No. 3 on the 1740 diagram) received its name because of the sundial placed in an apsidal alcove on the east wall. These showed the times of rising and setting of the Sun and Moon (Verlet 1985, p. 450).
Interior cabinet (No. 4 on the diagram of 1740) (also called the Corner Cabinet) was used for several purposes: it housed part of the numismatic collection of Louis XV and a collection of miniature paintings; it was used as a dining room; and it was a study. From all rooms Small apartments of the King during the reign of Louis XV, this room was probably the most lavishly furnished and most sumptuously decorated (Verlet 1985, p. 452).
Cabinet of Books, Oval Salon Louis XIV, Small gallery and its two salons, as well as Cabinet of Medals were preserved unchanged (Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 9 on the 1740 diagram).
By 1740 Small apartments of the King were expanded to the side King's Court, as a result of which the eastern part of this courtyard became a separate courtyard. This new courtyard was named King's Courtyard(No. II on the diagram of 1740), and King's Court got a new name Deer Yard. This new name came from the two dozen sculptured heads of deer with which Louis XV ordered to decorate the walls of the courtyard (Verlet 1985, p. 457).
The era of Louis XV - 1760
Changes in Small apartments of the King in the late 1750s were influenced by the general redevelopment of apartments main building The Palace and the destruction of the Staircase of Ambassadors (No. 10 on the diagram of 1740). To arrange new apartments for his daughter, Madame Adelaide, Louis XV ordered the construction of rooms on the same second floor as Small apartments of the King. These new apartments took the place where Small gallery and its two salons, as well as new areas that were formed after the demolition of the Ambassadors' Staircase (No. 9 on the 1760 diagram).
The most significant changes Small apartments of the King there was a movement at that time King's Stairs(No. 4 on diagram 1760), building Dining room upon return from hunting (1750) (No. 5 on the 1760 diagram), and Pantry(1754) (No. 6 on the 1760 diagram) (Verlet 1985, pp. 473-474). Dining room upon return from hunting was built on the site of the Bath Cabinet of Louis XV (No. g on the 1740 diagram) when the King needed a dining room on the second floor to receive small companies friends, usually after a hunt (Bluche, 2000; Marie, 1984). Dining room upon return from hunting was decorated with cladding panels and decorative elements, taken from Gaming salon Louis XIV (Verlet 1985, pp. 442-443).
Louis XV designed Small apartments of the King at a time when French decorating styles were developing very rapidly in the 18th century. Many of these rooms are excellent examples of the Louis XV Style. From all the rooms The King's Inner Apartments, the most significant is Cabinet with Clock. The sculptor Jacques Verbeckt made for him finishing panels, the room was furnished with a table and chairs and served for gambling parties presided over by Louis XV (Verlet 1985, p. 449). However, starting in 1754, this room received a significant advantage over other rooms.
In January of this year, Louis XV brought the famous mechanical clock from the Chateau de Choisy and placed it in this room.
The clock, created by engineer Passman and watchmaker Louis Dotio, and housed in a gilded bronze stand by Philippe Caffieri, was a marvel of its time. It took 12 years to create them; Above the clock there is a crystal ball in which the Sun and planets move in accordance with the Copernican theory. The clock shows the hour, day of the week, month (even taking into account leap years), and year. The office owes its name to this clock - Cabinet with clock (No. 2 on the 1760 diagram) (Kuraszewski, 1976; Verlet 1985, p. 450).
By 1760 Interior cabinet(No. 7 on the 1760 diagram) also became known as King's Bureau and this room became not only the best reflection of the personal tastes of Louis XV, but is also one of the best examples Louis XV style. In 1755, cabinetmaker Gilles Joubert made two corner cabinets, complementing the furniture made back in 1739 by the master Gaudreau, to house the numismatic collection of Louis XV (Verlet 1985, p. 452). In 1769, a mechanical bureau-secretary with a round lid was placed in this office, on which the master Jean-François Eben worked for 9 years (Verlet 1985, p. 454).
In development Inner cabinet, Louis XV was also involved in the construction of his back office (No. 8 on the diagram of 1760). Instead of Cabinet of Books And Oval salon Louis XIV, Louis XV created a separate private office (with a small Cabinet chairs), which went directly to King's Staircase and in which Louis spent most of his days governing France. This office was decorated in an extremely practical manner - a simple table, chairs and rows of shelves (Verlet 1985, p. 459).
The era of Louis XVI
Louis XVI, with the exception of taking back part of Madame Adelaide's apartments, completely preserved the design of the King's Small Apartments in the same form as it was under his grandfather. Back office Louis XV was given a new name - Dispatch office (No. 8 on the 1789 diagram); however, Louis XVI continued to use this room as a daily study, like his grandfather (Rogister, 1993).
Cabinet of gold service (No. 9 on the 1789 diagram) occupies part of the area of the former apartments Madame Adelaide, and was originally located in this place The first salon of the Little Gallery. Louis XVI during his reign placed in Cabinet of gold service his collection of rare porcelain and outlandish objects, mostly received as gifts from diplomats (Verlet 1985, p. 526)
Small room to the north Cabinet of gold service called Cash desk office (No. 10 on the diagram of 1789). Around 1769, the King's Baths were built on this site, and this was the last work commissioned by Louis XV. Louis XVI was rumored to have used this room to conduct his personal financial expenses (Verlet 1985, p. 526). The decorative facing panels in this room date from the period of perestroika for Louis XV, and already indicate a new taste: engravings representing themes of pleasures from water procedures in oval medallions bordered with reeds and daffodils, made with the effect of matte gold, polished gold and gold-silver alloy. These sculptures were made in 1771 not by Verberkt, but by his rival, Anutan Rousseau, with the help of his sons. However, Louis XVI in 1784 ordered the bathroom to be removed and the room to be completely re-gilded (Verlet 1985, p. 526). When Pierre de Nolac took over the management of the Versailles Museum, he discovered that this room was used by the janitors to store brooms. This discovery prompted Nolhac to begin a comprehensive study of the historical past of Versailles (Nolhac, 1937).
Louis XVI Library (No. 11 on the 1789 diagram) is located east of Cabinet of gold service and located on site Madame Adelaide's bedrooms(which Louis XV renamed in 1769 Meeting salon), and even earlier there was a place in this place Small gallery. The construction of the library began in 1774 according to the design of the architect Gabriel, and the decoration was carried out by the workshops of the Rousseau brothers, who had previously worked on wooden decoration Cabinet for cash register and over part of the sculptural decoration of the Royal Opera of Versailles (Verlet 1985, p. 513). This room clearly shows the personal tastes of Louis XVI; it was one of his favorite rooms and the King indulged here in his passion for science and, in particular, geography. Here you can see the terrestrial globe maintained by Atlas, on which he tracked the routes of sea expeditions, and in particular the La Perouse expedition, which the King inspired and supported. It's right here big table Risner, the lid of which is made of a single block of mahogany with a diameter of 2.1 meters and is mounted on jacks, since Louis absolutely needed Smooth surface, in order to make corrections on geographic maps.