The Palace of Versailles and the two Trianon palaces Versailles et les deux Trianons

Grill-work

To the cover of The Palace of Versailles and the two Trianon palaces
Title Page
  • The history of the Palace of Versailles begins with the establishment in 1626 by Louis XIII of a small castle for use as a hunting lodge in Versailles 18 km south-west of Paris. After Louis XIII's death, relocated of the capital was advocated by Louis XIV and work began on the construction of the large Versailles Palace in 1661 according to the design of architect Louis Le Vau (1612-1670) and others. Beginning in 1668 J. Hardouin-Mansart (1646-1708) rebuilt and enlarged the central section, to which he subsequently added the left and right wings connected to the central section, and the outline of the modern palace was complete by 1688.

    This work by Philippe Gille (1831-1901) provides a detailed description of the composition and architectural styles of the buildings, interior decoration, and furniture and fittings of Europe's premier palace, the Palace of Versailles, and of the two small palaces, the Grand and Petit Trianon palaces, situated in its vast park. It is accompanied by separate illustrations including hand-colored illustrations by Marcel Lambert and many in-text illustrations.

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  Illustration captions  
1 Portrait de Louis XIV, d'apres H. Rigaud, grave a l'eau-forte par Deblois.
Portrait of Louis XIV, etching by Deblois after the portrait by H. Rigaud.		 2:Vue du cheteau Louis XIII, cote est de l'entree, avec le portrait de Louis XIII, d'apres Ph. De Champagne, grave a l'eau-forte par Deblois
View of the Palace at the time of Louis XIII,
portrait of Louis XIII.
2 Vue du cheteau Louis XIII, cote est de l'entree, avec le portrait de Louis XIII, d'apres Ph. De Champagne, grave a l'eau-forte par Deblois.
View of the castle of Louis XIII, east side of the entrance, and portrait of Louis XIII, etching by Deblois after the portrait by Ph. De Champagne.
3 Plan d'ensemble du chateau, fin Louis XIII, commencement Louis XIV, avec le portrait de Jacques Boyceau, premier jardinier du roi, grave a l'eau-forte par Toussaint.
General ground plan of the castle, late Louis XIII/early Louis XIV, with portrait of the Jacques Boyceau, Head Royal Gardener, etching by Toussaint.
4* Travee des cours interieures actuelles (anciennement facade exterieure sud).
Columns of the present interior courses (formerly south exterior facade).
5 Vue du chateau de Versailles, commencement du regne de Louis XIV, cote sud de l'Orangerie primitive, avec le portrait de l'architecte Jacques Lemercier, grave a l'eau-forte par Deblois.
View of the Palace of Versailles at the beginning of the reign of Louis XIV, with south slope of the early Orangery, and a portrait of the architect Jacques Le Mercier, etching by Deblois.		  
6 Travee actuelle des communs sous Louis XIII, avec les adjonctions Louis XIV.
Present columns of the structures started under Louis XIII and enlarged under Louis XIV.		  
7* Plan des constructions Louis XIII existantes (petit chateau).
Ground plan of the surviving small castle of Louis XIII.		  
8 Facade de la grotte de Thetis (heliochromine).
View of the Grotto of Thetis (colour photograph).

10:Vue de l'ensemble du palais, prise de la grille d'honneur (etat actuel)
Main motif of
the grill-work
Gate of Honour

9 Etat actuel de la Cour de Marbre, apres les restaurations et avec les adjonctions Louis XIV.
The present Marble Court, as restored and added to by Louis XIV.
10 Vue de l'ensemble du palais, prise de la grille d'honneur (etat actuel).
The present Palace seen from the grill-work gate of honour.
11 Vue de la Cour de Marbre pendant une fete de nuit, avec le portrait de Mme de Montespan, grave a l'eau-forte par Deblois.
The Marble Court during a nocturnal fete, with a portrait of Madame de Montespan, etching by Deblois.
12* Grille de Delobel.
Delobel's Grill
13 Vue d'une des fetes de l'Ile enchantee, d'apres Silvestre, avec le portrait de Mme de La Valliere, grave a l'eau-forte par Deblois.
One of the fetes held on the Ile Enchantee, by Silvestre. Portrait of Madame de La Valliere, etching by Deblois.		  
14* Grille d'honneur. Motif principal.
Main motif of the grill-work Gate of Honour.		  
15* Pilastre de la grille d'honneur.
Pilaster of the grill-work Gate of Honour.		  
16 Vue d'ensemble de la Cour d'honneur, et de la Cour Marbre.
General view of the Court of Honour and the Marble Court.		  
17 Facade sud de la Cour d'honneur, aile nord de l'avant-cour. Restauration fin Louis XIV.
South facade of the Court of Honour, north wing of the outer court. Restored late Louis XIV.		 18:Vue perspective de la chapelle. Restauration du campanile
Perspective view of the chapel,
with the restored belfry
18 Vue perspective de la chapelle. Restauration du campanile.
Perspective view of the chapel, with the restored belfry.
19* Lambrequin de la chapelle.
Lambrequin in the chapel.
20 Detail d'un medaillon de la chapelle, avec les chapiteaux (angle exterieur N.-E.).
Detail of a medallion in the chapel, with capitals (N.-E. exterior angle of chapel).
21 Chevet de la chapelle, surmonte d'un portrait de Mme de Maintenon, grave a l'eau-forte par Deblois.
Apside (rearmost part) of the chapel, with portrait of Madame de Maintenon above.
22* Chapelle.--Statues de l'acrotere (Saint Augustin et Saint Jerome, par Coustou).
Chapel--Statues of St. Augustine and St. Jerome by Cousteau mounted on acroterion pediments.		  
23* Motif du chevet de la chapelle, en plomb dore.
Motif of the apside of the chapel, in gold-plated lead.		  
24 Vue d'ensemble du palais (fin Louis XIV), avec un portrait du roi, d'apres la cire de Benoist, encadre d'un trophee de la galerie des Glaces, grave a l'eau-forte par Deblois.
General view of the Palace exterior, late Louis XIV, with portrait of the King, surrounded by a trophy from the Gallery of Mirrors, etching by Deblois after the wax work by Benoist.		  
25* Le campanile de la chapelle.
The chapel belfry.		  
26* Motif de la Cour d'honneur: colonnes accouplees et balcon. Restauration.
Motif in the Court of Honour, double columns and balcony after restoration.		 26:Motif de la Cour d'honneur: colonnes accouplees et balcon. Restauration
Motif in the Court of Honour,
double columns and balcony
after restoration
27 Vue de l'entree de l'escalier de la Reine, avec les grilles anciennes.
The entrance to the Queen's Stairway, with the original grills.
28* Plan du rez-de-chaussee du palais, partie centrale des batiments sous Louis XIV.
Ground plan of the ground-floor of the Palace, the central part of the palace structures during Louis XIV's reign.
29 Coupe en geometral de l'escalier des Ambassadeurs.
Cross-section of the Ambassador's staircase.
30* Lucarne de la chapelle.
Chapel skylight.
31 Motif principal de l'escalier des Ambassadeurs.
Ambassadors' Stairway main motif.
32* Grille d'entree de l'escalier de la Reine.
Grill-work gate to Queen's Stairway.		  
33 Plan des voussures peintes de l'escalier des Ambassadeurs. Reconstitution.
Ambassadors' Stairway, painted coving after restoration.		  
34* Escalier des Ambassadeurs.--Vue laterale perspective. Reconstitution.
Side-view of the Ambassadors' Stairway after restoration.		  
35* Escalier des Ambassadeurs.-- Plan des voutes du vestibule. Reconstitution.
Ambassadors' Stairway. Vaults of the vestibule after restoration.		  
36 Reddition de Cambrai. Panneau subsistant de l'escalier des Ambassadeurs. Le tableau par Van der Meulen. Ornements par Le Brun (en couleurs).
The Surrender of Cambrai, panel still existing on the Ambassadors' Stairway. The picture is the work of Van der Meulen, ornaments by Le Brun.		  
37 Plafond du salon ovale de Mignard.
Ceiling of the Oval Salon, by Mignard.		 37:Plafond du salon ovale de Mignard
Ceiling of the Oval Salon,
by Mignard
38* Panneau de l'escalier des Ambassadeurs. Buste de Louis XIV jeune.
Ambassador' Stairway panel. Bust of the young Louis XIV.
39 Panneau d'un des volets subsistants, du commencement de Louis XIV. Appartements du rez-de-chaussee.
Panel of one of the still existing blinds, created at the beginning Louis XIV. Ground-floor rooms.
40 Vue du salon de Venus (en prespective).
View of the Venus Salon.
41* Porte attribuee a Caffieri.
Door by Caffieri.
42* Plan de l'avant-corps du palais, epoque Louis XIV. Premier etage.
Ground plan of the forward extension of the Palace, age of Louis XIV. Second floor.		  
43* Motif d'entree du salon de l'Abondance, avec les panneaux sur lesquels des tapisseries s'appliquaient selon les fetes de la saison.
The entry motif of the Salon of Abundance, with panels upon which tapestries were fixed according to the seasonal celebrations.		  
44 Motif d'angle du salon d'Apollon (planche aquarellee a la main).
Motif in a corner of the Salon of Apollo (hand-painted watercolour illustration).		  
45 Motif principal du salon de la Guerre. (planche aquarellee a la main).
Main motif of the Salon of War (hand-painted watercolour illustration).		  
46* Plafond du salon de Venus.
Ceiling of the Salon of Venus.		  
47* Angle du salon de Mercure.
Corner of the Salon of Mercury.		  
48 Coupe sur le salon de la Guerre. Ensemble du batiment.
Cross-section of Salon of War. General view of the building.		  
49* Partie centrale du plafond d'Apollon (salle du Trone).
Centre of the Apollo ceiling (throne room).		 53:Partie centrale du plafond du salon de Venus
Centre of the ceiling,
Salon of Venus
50* Angle du salon de la Guerre.
Corner of the Salon of War.
51 Vue perspective de l'escalier de la Reine (planche aquarellee a la main).
Perspective view of the Queen's Stairway (hand-painted watercolour illustration).
52 Motif principal de l'escalier de la Reine (planche aquarellee a la main).
Main motif of the Queen's Stairway (hand-painted watercolour illustration).
53* Partie centrale du plafond du salon de Venus.
Centre of the ceiling, Salon of Venus.
54* Perspective d'angle du salon de Venus.
Perspective view of a corner of the Salon of Venus.		  
55 Coupe transversale sur la galerie des Glaces.
Cross Section, Gallery of Mirrors.		  
56* Porte de la salle des Gardes de la Reine.
Door of the Queen's Guards' Room.		  
57* Angle de la Voussure de la salle du Grand Couvert (appartement de la Reine).
Corner of coving of the Grand Couvert Antechamber (Queen's apartments).		  
58 Plan du rez-de-chaussee de la chapelle avec les mosaiques, surmonte d'un portrait de Mansart, grave a l'eau-forte par Toussaint.
Ground plan of the ground-floor of the chapel, with mosaics, and a portrait of Mansart, etching by Toussaint.		 58:Plan du rez-de-chaussee de la chapelle avec les mosaiques, surmonte d'un portrait de Mansart, grave a l'eau-forte par Toussaint
Ground plan of the ground-floor
gallery of the chapel,
portrait of Mansart
59 Passage du Rhin (bas-relief du rez-de-chaussee de la chapelle, qui devait etre place dans le salon de la Guerre).
The Rhine Gorge (chapel ground-floor bas-relief).
60 Coupe en geometral de la chapelle.
Cross Section of the chapel.
61 Vue perspective de la chapelle (heliochromie)
Perspective view of the chapel (colour photograph).
62* Grande Galerie. -- Motif du fond.
Gallery of Mirrors, inset motif.
63* Grande Galerie. -- Chute en bronze dore.
Gallery of Mirrors, gold-plated bronze pendant.
64 L'orgue de la chapelle en perspective (planche aquarellee a la main).
The chapel organ (hand-painted watercolour)		  
65 Coupe sur le grand axe, donnant la chambre de Louis XIV et la Grande Galerie.
Major-axis Cross Section, showing the chamber of Louis XIV and the Gallery of Mirrors.		  
66* Grande Galerie.-- Vue perspective.
Perspective view of the Gallery of Mirrors.		  
67* Amours entourant les armes de France.
Cupids surrounding the French Arms.		  
68 Porte de la chambre du Roi (planche aquarellee a la main).
Door of the King's chamber (hand-painted watercolour illustration).		  
69* Chapelle.-- Grille en cuivre.
Chapel. Copper grill.		  
70* Chapelle.-- Le maitre-autel.
Chapel. The High Altar.		 73:Chapelle.-- Voussures, cote du choeur
Chapel.
Coving
on the choir side
71 Perspective de la chambre du Roi (planche aquarellee a la main).
Perspective view of the King's chamber (hand-painted watercolour illustration).
72* Chapelle.-- Tribunes du premier etage. (En avant etaient places les edicules en bois dore pour le roi et la reine).
Chapel. Columns on the second-floor gallery.
73* Chapelle.-- Voussures, cote du choeur.
Chapel. Coving on the choir side.



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