The Poets' Cabinet restoration

THE POETS' CABINET

The Poets’ Cabinet was built in 1755 for Maria Josepha of Saxony, mother of future kings Louis XVI,Louis XVIII, and Charles X. Designed by First Architect to the King Ange-Jacques Gabriel, it is a unique masterpiece within the Palace of Versailles. The décor was entrusted to the carpenter Ménageot, who created the panelling and woodwork, the sculptor Maurisan, who created the sculptures, and Etienne Martin, an expert in painting and varnishing who created a remarkable set of wooden panels painted in his eponymous varnish. 

This ensemble was dismantled in 1769 to make way for a staircase connecting the Dauphin’s apartments with those of Marie Antoinette. The panels were carefully taken down, then put back up again a year later in what is now the Poets’ Cabinet, next door to the Queen’s Gold Room, where they can still be found today.

Located between the apartments of the King and Queen, the décor in this room is particularly rich and colourful, in contrast with the harmonious white and gold of the neighbouring rooms.

AN INTIMATE SPACE WITH OPULENT DÉCOR

An exceptional example of the 18th century style, this cabinet combines carved panelling with painted décor “au naturel”. With its rococo polychrome style, it is one of the rare examples of ornamental carving combined with scenes painted in the “vernis Martin” varnish technique.
This space reflects the refined taste of its various occupants, from Maria Josepha of Saxony and Marie Leszczyńska to Marie Antoinette. 

AN EXTENSIVE, ESSENTIAL RESTORATION PROJECT 

A close look at the décor revealed numerous issues. Cracks, lifting paint, and oxidation of the varnish had drastically diminished the polychrome effect and the clarity of the painted scenes. 

The wooden panelling, which had been taken down during the Second World War and later reinstalled, also bore the traces of work carried out in the 1950s and 60s, with additional elements, reinterpretations, and adjustments to the installation that in some cases altered the original composition. 

The 2025-2026 restoration project aims to stabilise the materials, reverse the unsuitable alterations, and restore the elegance and harmony of the décor in keeping with the initial design.

PATRONAGE

The Poets’ Cabinet restoration project has been made possible thanks to the principal patronage of the Fondation Malatier-Jacquet and to the patronage of the Françoise Kahn Hamm Endowment fund.