The busts and statues in the South Wing's Lower Stone Gallery feature generals, aides-de-camp and dignitaries from the French Revolution and First Empire. An idea devised by Louis-Philippe during the creation of the Historic Galleries, this gallery seeks to showcase the military triumphs and political figures of the period. Help bring Louis-Philippe's vision back to life: become a patron and support the restoration of these treasures by adopting a bust or statue.
Adopt a famous figure from the French Revolution and First Empire
© Château de Versailles, Dist. RMN © Christophe Fouin
The gallery's history
Designed in 1679 by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the gallery is located on the ground floor of the South Wing, next to the rooms dedicated to Napoleon's conquests.
The collection itself was created by Louis-Philippe in 1834 as part of the fit-out for the Historic Galleries.
It includes over 80 sculptures depicting famous military triumphs and political figures from the French Revolution, the Consulate era and the First Empire.
The works are primarily commissions made by Napoleon I during the First Empire, and are supplemented by casts to create a chronological and themed gallery experience.
Antoine-Louis-Charles, comte de Lasalle, général de division
© RMN-GP (Château de Versailles) / © Gérard Blot
A gallery in ruins
Since 1848 and the fall of the July monarchy, a number of works have been moved to other rooms, placed in storage or housed at other museums.
These successive developments – particularly the construction of the Congress Chamber in 1875, which modified the gallery's layout – made it harder to continue with the concept originally envisaged by Louis-Philippe.
Today, only a third of the sculptures from the 1839 inventory are still on display in this space. Rebuilding the 1837 collection as faithfully as possible is thus proving to be a considerable challenge – a challenge this current campaign plans to tackle in a bid to restore it to its true historic condition.
Louis-René-Madeleine Le Vassor, comte de La Touche-Tréville, amiral
© RMN-GP (Château de Versailles) / © Gérard Blot
Become a patron
Join the campaign to adopt busts and statues in the First Empire gallery:
Cost for adopting a bust: € 5,000.
Cost for adopting a statue: € 12,000.
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Bust |
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You are |
A private individual |
A company with a subsidiary in France |
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Your donation |
5 000 € |
5 000 € |
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Tax reduction |
66% |
60% |
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Cost after tax reduction |
1 700 € |
2 000 € |
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Benefit in return |
'1 year at Versailles' membership card |
1 250 € |
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Statue |
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You are |
An individual paying tax in France |
A company with a subsidiary in France |
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Your donation |
12 000 € |
12 000 € |
|
Tax reduction |
66% |
60% |
|
Cost after tax reduction |
4 080 € |
4 800 € |
|
Benefit in return |
'1 year at Versailles' membership card |
3 000 € |
If you would like to become a patron, please contact the Palace of Versailles patronage department:
mecenat@chateauversailles.fr / +33 (0)1 30 83 77 40
Or download and complete the adoption form below
