Versailles' Hall of Mirrors
The Hall of Mirrors is the central gallery of the Palace of Versailles. As the principal and most remarkable feature of King Louis XIV of France's third building campaign of the Palace of Versailles (1678–1684), construction of the Hall of Mirrors began in 1678.
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Versailles' Hall of Mirrors
The principal feature of this hall is the seventeen mirror-clad arches that reflect the seventeen arcaded windows that overlook the gardens. Each arch contains twenty-one mirrors with a total complement of 357 used in the decoration of the galerie des glaces.[7] The arches themselves are fixed between marble pilasters whose capitals depict the symbols of France.[citation needed] These gilded bronze capitals include the fleur-de-lys and the Gallic cockerel or rooster.
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Versailles-The Coronation of Napoleon
The Coronation of Napoleon is a painting completed in 1807 by Jacques-Louis David, the official painter of Napoleon. The painting has imposing dimensions, as it is almost 10 metres (33 ft) wide by a little over 6 metres (20 ft) tall. The crowning and the coronation took place at Notre-Dame de Paris.
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Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery |
Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery-Napoleon I |
Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery
The biggest section in the History Galleries of Versailles is the Battles Gallery. It occupies nearly all the two upper floors of the South Wing of the Palace up to the roof. Designed and laid out beginning in 1833, it was solemnly opened on 10 June 1837 and was regarded as the highlight of the visit to the museum.
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Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery
Louis-Philippe brought together here thirty-three paintings depicting the main battles that France had fought, from the Battle of Tolbiac in 496 to the Battle of Wagram in 1809. All the dynasties that had reigned over France are represented – Merovingians, Carolingians, Capetians, Valois and Bourbons – along with the regimes of the Revolution and Napoleon I. Its message was simple: France had grown as a nation through combats against its internal and external enemies; it was henceforth glorious, serene and ready to enter a new era founded on peace and prosperity.
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Palace of Versailles-Battle Gallery-Siege of Yorktown, 17th October 1781
This painting, executed in 1836 by Louis Charles Auguste Couder, shows France's Marquis de Lafayette (pointing with red sash) and other French officers advising General George Washington at the decisive victory over the British at the Battle of Yorktown. The inclusion of this painting in the Battle Gallery was clearly meant to emphasize France's key role in the achievement of American independence.
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Palace of Versailles-Sun King Motif |
The Gardens of Versailles |
The Gardens of Versailles-C Curve Glass and Steel Sculpture by Indian-British artist Anish Kapoor |
Versailles-Sky Mirror Sculpture in Stainless Steel by British-Indian Sculptor Anish Kapoor
Sky Mirror is a public sculpture by artist . Anish Kapoor.Sky Mirror is a six-metre-wide concave dish of polished stainless steel weighing ten tonnes and angled up towards the sky. Its surface reflects the ever-changing environment. Along with other works by Kapoor, it is on display in the Gardens of Versailles until 11/1/15.
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Versailles-Stainless Steel Reflecting Sculpture by Anish Kapoor |
Versailles-Water Parterre and Kapoor's Sky Mirror |
Versailles Palace viewed from behind the Water Parterre |
