The gallery of the kings of France at the château of Versailles

Étienne Chilot 
with editions Le Charmoiset, 2025
24 x 21 cm, 310 p., 34 € TTC
ISBN 978 2 37289 032 8
 

bilingual book (french/english)

Publication : 26 novembre

Housed in the royal apartments of the Chateau of Versailles, the museum created in 1837 by King Louis-Philippe, known as the 'Historical Galleries', offered an idealised approach to the past, highlighting France's glorious moments while glossing over the political divisions that marked the tumultuous periods of the Revolution and the Empire. Today, it remains an essential part of any visit to Versailles, evidence of the transformation of the chateau in the 19th century. 
Among the masterpieces of these galleries, dedicated to 'all the glories of France, was a special room, now lost, devoted to the sovereigns who had ruled the country from Clovis to Louis-Philippe himself. Here, the king had a collection of royal portraits installed in the form of painted canvases, including the famous portrait of François I painted by Jean Clouet, whose format served as a reference for all the other paintings in the series. Some were specially created for the purpose, while others were commissioned from the greatest artists of the Romantic period.
A truly visual monument to the French monarchy, this collection was designed to place Louis-Philippe in an illustrious royal lineage, while affirming his role as sovereign of a unified people that was both modern and respectful of tradition.
Its purpose having been deemed obsolete under the Third Republic, the Hall of the Kings of France was re-allocated and its paintings were put in storage at the Chateau of Versailles or placed in various national museums, including the Musée de l'Armée at Les Invalides and the Chateau of Compiègne.
Reproduced as engravings, they illustrated the school textbooks of many schoolchildren, helping them to learn a popular history of France and thus become part of the collective memory.
For the first time in over a century, this unique collection of royal portraits has been brought together in a scientific and educational work that allows readers to rediscover the original works in their entirety.

CONTENTS :

Préface
Introduction

The Merovingians
The Carolingians
The Capatians
The Valois
The Bourbons
The Bonaparte

Annexes