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Exhibitions
Baroque exuberance
Baroque exuberance
The Jardin français of the Petit Trianon welcomes two creative talents of the new ‘plant’ wave.
Shows
Royal wedding of louis XIV
Royal wedding of louis XIV
The bassin de Neptune welcomes the Group F !
The Great Shows of Versailles
Shows of Versailles
Show programme of the Château de Versailles for the year 2010 - 2011
The Concerts of the Baroque Music Center of Versailles
Baroque Music Center
The programme of the Versailles Baroque Music Center
Equestrian Show Academy
Equestrian Show Academy
A centre for equestrian shows and training, directed by Bartabas
Other events
Restoration of the exterior decor of the Pavillon Frais
The Pavillon Frais
Restoration of the exterior decor of the Pavillon Frais
A Kid’s guide to the Palace of Versailles for Adults
Versailles : a kid's guide
Adults will enable at last to answer the questions of children curious to learn about Versailles !
The Royal Opera reopens its doors
The Royal Opera reopens its do
After 2 years of renovation work, the Royal Opera had reopened its doors.
The acquisitions of the Palace
The acquisitions of the Palace
The last acquisitions of the palace of Versailles
Restoration of the Queen’s Salon du Grand Couvert
The Queen’s Grand Couvert
The restoration of the Grand Couvert Antechamber is one of the major restoration project of the year
Colloquiums
Symposium, conferences and workshops in 2010
Symposium and conferences
The scientific activities of 2010.
Restoration of the Queen’s Salon du Grand Couvert
Sponsored by Martell&Co
The restoration in progress of the Grand Couvert Antechamber, in the Queen’s Grand Apartment, is one of the major restoration projects of 2009-2010. This room, which was used to serve the King’s supper, houses exceptional paintings that have been damaged over the years. It will take at least ten months to restore them to their original state.
Louis XIV had supper in the Grand Couvert Antechamber each day at ten o’clock at night, surrounded by his family as well as a crowd of courtiers. During a bit less than one hour, a procession of dishes and desserts would file out of the kitchens, under the attentive eyes of the Court.
The Antechamber of the Grand Couvert is located in the enfilade of the Queen’s Grand Apartment which extends from the Guard Room to the Peace Salon. Decorated between 1671 and 1680, dedicated to the god of war Mars, the paintings which draw their subjects from ancient history portray “large women” who became famous during war thanks to their courage, like Artemisia the Queen of Caria.
Fourteen restorers are currently working on this delicate task. The pictorial layer of the paintings was coming off in several areas of the canvas, located on the room’s ceiling. The restoration required the installation of full scaffolding and the creation of a “tunnel” to allow visitors to get from the Nobles Salon to the Guard Room of the same Apartment of the Queen. The renovations are scheduled to end in February 2010.