Petit appartement de la reine

Infobox|
title =


caption =
Plan of the "petit appartement de la reine" ca. 1740

headerstyle = background:#ccf;
labelstyle = background:#ddf;

header1=Key to the plan of the "petit appartement de la reine" |
label2=1
data2=escalier
label3=2
data3=service de la reine
label4=3
data4=valet du roi
label5=4
data5=passage
label6=5
data6=cabinet de la chaise
label7=6
data7=oratoire
label8=7
data8=petite galerie (cabinet des chinois ; laboratoire)
label9=8
data9=pièce des bains
label10=9
data10=grand cabinet intérieur
label11=10
data11=arrière cabinet
label12=11
data12=terrasse
label13=12
data13=escalier de la reine
label14=A-F
data14=grand appartement de la reine
label15=a
data15=ancien appartement de la marquise de Maintenon
label16=b
data16=appartement du roi
label17=I
data17=cour de Monseigneur
label18=II
data18=cour de MonsieurInfobox|
title =


caption =
Plan of the "petit appartement de la reine" ca. 1789

headerstyle = background:#ccf;
labelstyle = background:#ddf;

header1=Key to the plan of the "petit appartement de la reine"
label2=1
data2=escalier
label3=2
data3=service de la reine
label4=3
data4=escalier à l’appartement de la reine au rez-de-chaussée
label5=4
data5=passage
label6=5
data6=cabinet de la chaise
label7=6
data7=cabinet de la Méridienne
label8=7
data8=bibliothèque
label9=8
data9=supplement de la bibliothèque
label10=9
data10=grand cabinet intérieur
label11=10
data11=arrière cabinet
label12=11
data12=pièce des bains
label13=12
data13=chambre des bains
label14=13
data14=antichambres
label15=14
data15=escalier de la reine
label16=A-F
data16=grand appartement de la reine
label17=a
data17=appartement du duc de Duras
label18=b
data18=appartement du roi
label19=I
data19=cour de Monseigneur
label20=II
data20=cour de MonsieurThe "petit appartement de la reine" is a suite of room in the Palace of Versailles. These rooms, situated behind the grand appartement de la reine, and which now open onto two interior courtyards, were the private domain of the Queens of France, Marie-Thérèse, Maria Leszczyńska, and Marie-Antoinette as well as the duchesse de Bourgogne as dauphine. The rooms in the "petit appartement de la reine" have been restored to the state that there left when Marie-Antoinette left Versailles on 7 October 1789.

Marie-Thérèse

At the completion of Le Vau’s "enveloppe", the queen’s private rooms consisted of suite of five rooms that opened on the southern side of the "cour de marbre" and onto a small interior courtyard — at the time called the "cour de la reine". [In 1683, after the death of Marie-Thérèse, the rooms that opened on the "cour de marbre" were incorporated into the "appartement du roi"] In these rooms, Marie-Thérèse led her private and family life. Very little information survived about the décor or the arrangement of these rooms, owing largely to her early death in 1683 (Verlet 1985, p. 253).

The most significant modifications to the "petit appartement de la reine" happened after the marriage of Louis XIV's grandson, the duc de Bourgogne, with Marie-Adélaïde de Savoie in 1697. Shortly after the marriage in 1699, a suite of three rooms was constructed – known as the "appartement de nuit du duc de Bourgogne" (Verlet 1985, p. 210). Theses rooms were created for the conjugal visits of the young duc with his wife. Consisting of a bedroom, cabinet, and garde-robe, this part of the "petit appartement de la reine" when constructed in 1699 divided the "cour de la reine" into the "cour de Monsiegneur" to the west and the "cour de Monsieur" to the east (Verlet 1985, p. 256). These rooms also communicated with the "appartement du roi" and formed part of "petit appartement de la reine" and were used by the princess until her death in 1712.

Maria Leszcyńska

Under Maria Leszczyńska, the "petit appartement de la reine" underwent three distinct phases of modification: 1728-1731; 1737-1739; and, 1746-1748.

The 1728-1731 phase resulted in the construction of a "chambre des bains" (1740 plan #8), the "petite galerie" (1740 plan #7), and an oratory (1740 plan #6) (Verlet 1985, p. 401).

The 1737-1739 phase saw significant redecoration in the "petite galerie" with a décor of paneling in green and gold vernis Martin. At this time, the "appartement de nuit du duc de Bourgogne" was remodeled for use by the queen with the construction of the "grand cabinet intérieur" (1740 plan #9) and the "arrière cabient" (1740 plan #10), both of which were decorated with intricately carved and painted paneling. At this time, a number of paintings, most notably by François Boucher and Charles-Antoine Coypel, were displayed in the "petit appartement de la reine" (Verlet 1985, p. 402)

The 1746-1748 phase saw a redecoration of the "petite galerie" at which time it was called alternately "cabinet des chinois" – owing to the number of "chinoiserie" designs that the queen had framed and hung in this room – or "laboratoire" – a laboratory where Maria Leszczyńska pursued her hobbies. At this time, the "oratoire" was converted in the "cabinet de la Méridienne" with new paneling by Jacques Verberckt. The "pièce des bains" was redecorated with paneling by the Rousseau brothers and paintings by Charles-Joseph Natoire. The "grand cabinet d’inérieur" received new paneling by Verberckt [The decoration of the "arrière cabient" was retained at this time and it this décor that was retained by Marie-Antoinette and which is in place today.] (Pon, 1992; Verlet 1985, p. 402-403).

With the death of Maria Leszczyńska in 1768, the "petit appartement de la reine" remained vacant until the arrival of the new dauphine, Marie-Antoinette in 1770

Marie-Antoinette

The fame of the "petit appartement de la reine" rests squarely in the hands of the last queen of France during the Ancien Régime. The restored state of the rooms that one sees today at Versailles closely replicate the "petit appartement de la reine" as it appeared during Marie-Antoinette’s day (Verlet, 1937). Modifications of the "petit appartement de la reine" for Marie-Antoinette began in 1779 (Verlet 1985, p. 585).

In this year, Marie-Antoinette ordered her favorite architect, Richard Mique to cover all wall of the "petit appartement de la reine" with white satin embroidered with floral arabesques, ostensibly to give a decorative cohesion to the rooms. The cost of the fabric was 100,000 "livres"; the hangings were entirely replaced with wood paneling in 1783 (Verlet 1985, p. 586).

In 1781, to commemorate the birth of the first dauphin, Louis XVI ordered Richard Mique to redecorate the "cabinet de la Mérideinne" (1789 plan #6) (Verlet 1985, p. 586). It was in this room that Marie-Antoinette would choose the clothing she would wear that day. [Books containing drawings of the queen’s dresses and other garments would be presented to Marie-Antoinette. She would indicate her preference by inserting a pin into the page that depicted the dress she wanted to wear. During the restoration of this room during the 1980s, when the flooring was removed, a number of pins were found. Apparently, pins had either been dropped or had fallen out of the books.]

In this same year, the "bibliothèque" – occupying the site of the "petite gallerie" of Maria Leszczyńska – (1789 plan #7) and the "supplement de la bibliothèque" – occupying the "pièce des baines" of Maria Leszczyńska – (1789 plan #8). Additionally, a room for the "toilette à l’anglaise" [The term "toilette à l’anglaise" refers to a flush toilet, similar to today’s modern convenience.] a "pièce des bains and a "salle des bains" were arranged opening on the "cour de Monsieur" (Verlet 1985, p. 403).

The last major modification to the "petit appartement de la reine" occurred in 1783, when Marie-Antoinette ordered a complete redecoration of the "grand cabinet intérieur". The costly embroidered hangings were replaced with caved gilt paneling by Richard Mique. The new décor caused the room to be renamed the "cabinet doré" (Verlet 1985, p. 586).

Of all the features of the "petit appartement de la reine", the so-called secret passage that links the grand appartement de la reine with the appartement du roi is one that has become a legend in the history of Versailles. The passage actually dates from the time of Marie-Thérèse, and had always been a suite of service rooms that also served as a private means by which the king and queen could communicate with each other [The only other option would be to cross the public rooms, which were always crowded with people.] (1740 plan #1-4; 1789 plan #1-4). It is true, however, that Marie-Antoinette, who was sleeping in the "chambre de la reine" in the grand appartement de la reine, escaped from the Paris mob on the night of 6/7 October 1789 by using this route. The entrance to the so-called secret passage is through a door located on the west side of the north wall of the "chambre de la reine".

Gallery

References

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