10 3 Science and Curiosities versailles, PLACE OF plan 2-1 2-2 SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS at the Court of Versailles room 1 rOOM 5 Outline of the exhibition by Béatrix Saule THE FOUNDATION OF THE rOYAL TUTELAGE IN PrACTICE Th e unprecedented vastness of the Th e places of science Versailles, where 7 in Versailles science and techniques THE rOYAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Versailles construction project raised new 7 THE CHÂTEAU DE VErSAILLES In Versailles, the ministers in charge rOOMs 2-1 & 2-2 were taught problems. Apart from the traditional Science and power rOOMs 6-1 & 6-2 DEVOTES AN EXHIBITION TO 1 1 2 At this time, everywhere in Europe, of supervising the sciences appointed 11 kinds of know-how, it required 15 16 Th e system functioned by gravitation, rOOM 3 Versailles, place of royal scientists were grouped around rich members of the Academy, encouraged the input of new scientifi c knowledge practical science THE PLACE OF THE SCIENCES THE PLACES OF SCIENCE patrons who supported them. “investigations” (research) around so not only was a lot of water needed but Versailles, place and techniques. More so than of scientifi c applications rOOM 7 it had to come from higher ground. IN VErSAILLES Jean-Baptiste Colbert decided to attach the kingdom, subsidised expeditions for the buildings, these new needs and techniques Versailles, IN THE rOYAL COUrT. An elaborate system of pumps, aqueducts 2-1 & 2-2 them to the King with the aim of getting to remote areas, and made grants concerned the gardens. Inspired by his astronomy telescopes, THE PIPED WATEr SUPPLY rOOMs 4-1 & 4-2 place of scientifi c and reservoirs was then constructed. demonstrations Genuine science or As an introduction to the exhibition, the sciences to serve the good of the to scientists. They favoured the branches the theodolite telescope invented by AND HYDrAULICS Versailles, fi eld Th e gigantic machine of Marly drew under a reproduction of Coronelli’s SCIENCE AND POWEr state. In 1666, he gathered twelve scientists It was not until 1699 that the throne of sciences likely to help meet the Th e same period saw the founding of Picard was capable of measuring angles of experimentation curiosities? To give Louis XIV the pleasure of the water of the Seine thanks to 14 celestial globe, symbol of science in around the Dutchman Huygens, granted the Academy the offi cial title objectives of the royal power: astronomy the Academy of Surgery, the Veterinary and levels. Th anks to this, he proved SUrVEYING AND LEVELLING fountains, 35,292 large barrels of water paddle wheels. Th e aqueduct designed the service of the royal power because Versailles was the offi cial seat of the who were soon joined by other celebrities of Royal Academy as well as its for navigation, geometry and chemistry schools of Lyon and Alfort, the the impossibility of tapping the water (around 9,500 m3) were required for by Vauban and advised by the it presents the state of the night sky at absolute monarchy for over a century, such as the Bolognese scientist regulations which set up its 6 sections: for the artillery, geodesics and Agriculture Society and the Royal Society Th e land that surrounded the Château of the Loire, a solution that Riquet, 2½ hours of entertainment. Between 1670 Academicians, turned out to be too the moment of the birth of Louis XIV, from 1682 to 1789, and the palace Jean-Dominique Cassini who was to geometry, astronomy, mechanics, cartography for the cadastral and fiscal of Medicine. Many scientists, including was not naturally conducive to the king’s the engineer of the Canal du Midi, and 1685, the time it took to lay down ambitious, as it was supposed to stretch a full HD 360° video shows that supervised and promoted the sciences direct the Observatory set up the following anatomy, botany and chemistry. administrations, medicine and the most prominent, worked in projects: it was not structured and could had convinced Colbert was right. 6-2 6-1 Under the direction of Béatrix Saule, the great network in Versailles, to 70 km from Versailles, and was never the Château, its outbuildings, gardens in France notably through the year. Th e large painting by Testelin At the beginning of the year, the Academy pharmacology for public health, botany the court as health offi cers or tutors provide no usable water for the Apart from saving the Royal Treasury General Manager of the Public the hydraulic problems mobilised completed. Science and techniques and parks, and its surroundings, Academy of Sciences. Th is period, celebrates the foundation of the Academy went to Versailles to present its and agronomy to prevent famines, to the princes. Th is presence of learned fountains. Before any work could begin, greater expense, Picard advocated Establishment of the Museum and National scientists and engineers. Hitherto were also drawn on in the most varied hosted all forms of scientifi c activity: which covers the end of the classical and the Observatory by a visit made publications. Th is ritual demonstrated physics for its technical applications, etc. experts attracted others. Quesnay, the land around the palace had to be practical and lasting solutions both ENTrANCE Estate of Versailles, and Catherine empirical practices gave way to scientific forms to ensure the embellishment 1 5 application, experimentation, teaching, age and the Enlightenment period, by the King to the Academy. that the Royal Academy of Sciences To accompany the promotion of the doctor of Madame de Pompadour, mapped out in a surveying and levelling for the ‘decorative’ water and the drinking ones: Perrault, Mariotte, La Hire, and comfort of the royal residence. Arminjon, honorary General Heritage practical work and demonstration. saw considerable progress thanks to Th e King is surrounded by his brother, offered the king tangible proof the useful arts and techniques, the first received Diderot and d’Alembert in operation. Finding the water required water. In parallel to the work of the Gobert, Picard and Römer carried out In return, they were glorifi ed by being Curator. Each aspect is covered in a section the crown’s proactive scientifi c policy. Monsieur, and lords of his entourage. of the research work that he subsidised. engineering schools were founded: his apartment in the Château. Th e royal going so far for it that new instruments Academicians, Le Nôtre and his teams the first calculations of flow rates, invoked in the decoration of the Grand of the exhibition. However, Versailles Colbert, in the centre of the composition Th e links between Paris and Versailles Ponts et Chaussées (Civil Engineering), power did indeed ban the Encyclopedia, and calculations taking the roundness did the same inside the estate, 4-1 4-2 and studies of the friction and Apartments in which each including was above all the place of power. and acting as intermediary, presents were clearly defi ned now, and Génie maritime (Naval Engineering), but that was because of the philosophical of the earth’s surface into account but with instruments and knowledge resistance of materials for the piping the King’s inner apartment (wardrobe 2-1 the Academicians to him. However, this the Academy became the instrument the Engineering school in Mezières positions that it adopted, not for had to be found. Th ese were developed in geometry and optics that were mostly systems. A technological development, of Louis XVI). is an imaginary representation because of offi cial science. for fortifications, and the School of Mines. the compilation of knowledge and and then improved through practice derived from the end of the 16th century, the use of cast iron for the piping made it was painted before the King’s sole visit techniques that it had never ceased by a team of Academicians under though henceforth refi ned and up of standardised units fitting together 3 5 to the Academy on 5 December 1681. 12. Presumed portrait to encourage since Colbert. an astronomer, the Abbé Jean Picard. theorised. of Antoine-Laurent without soldering, replaced earthenware, 2-2 10. Jean Le Rond de Lavoisier, wooden or lead pipes. The adjutages, d’Alembert (1717-1783), (1743-1794), chemist, which gave the water jets their shape, mathematician, director François-Louis Brossard of the “Encyclopédie” de Beaulieu, 1784 15. Graphometer 17. Compass, were improved by the Francini family 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 14. until 1757, 13. Anne-Robert-Jacques with sight, Wardrobe Study and, thanks to the advice of Huygens, Colbert Presents to by Maurice Quentin Turgot, (1727-1781), Michael Butterfi eld, of Louis XVI, 1788 the consumption of water was reduced. 3 Louis XIV the Members de La Tour, 1773 Controller General before 1700 18. Saturn’s Chariot, of the Academy 11. Louis XIV, of Finance (1774-1776) 16. View of the Marly sketch for the painting of Sciences, founded Protector of the Arts Antoine Graincourt, Machine, on the ceiling 4 6 in 1666, (details), 8 9 and Sciences, by François Hubert 12 13 Pierre Denis Martin, of the Saturn Salon, 17 18 Henri Testelin Jean Garnier, 1672 Drouais, 1782 1722 Noël Coypel, 1672

14 4-1 & 4-2 20 23 27

Versailles, FIELD the largest botanical collection in Europe Th en mathematics moved on from ÉTABLISSEMENT PUBLIC DU MUSÉE ET DU DOMAINE OF EXPErIMENTATION 19 with over 4,000 varieties. Trianon castrametation (the art of choosing NATIONAL DE VErSAILLES became a genuine research centre in 22 and laying out the site of a camp or 6-1 6-2 7 RP 834  78 008 Versailles cedex, France Versailles off ered resources species, notably Dutch cows, botany. For over 30 years, plants arrived fortifi cation), and naval matters became praCTICAL SCIENTIFIC WOrK praCTICAL SCIENTIFIC WOrK Information and reservation: +33 01 30 83 78 00 for research in the palace and its and the improvement of native stocks. from all over the world, brought back a separate science. Th e teaching of theory VErSAILLES, PLACE AND COLLECTIONS OF LOUIS XV AND COLLECTIONS OF LOUIS XVI 25 www.chateauversailles.fr outlying buildings: premises, Louis XVI then had a model farm by botanists from expeditions in the reign of Louis XIV was comple- OF SCIENTIFIC or exchanged with foreign scientists, 5 mented by visits to the Academy, the collections and costly equipment. built in the Rambouillet estate which 21 The culture of Louis XV was Louis XVI overtook his grandfather 26 DEMONSTrATIONS 28 he had acquired for the acclimatization such as the Swedish botanist Linnaeus. Observatory and the King’s Medicinal predominantly scientific. When he Louis XV in his scientific exploration. OPENING TIMES CrEDITS 4-1 of merino sheep, drawing on These new plants were acclimatized versailles, WHErE Garden. Th e young Louis XV also Th e exhibition is 4-1 & 4-2 6-1 & 6-2 was just 7 he was passionately interested When one looks at the inventory of his A scientist invited to make a presentation organised by the Public the research made by Daubenton in three types of gardens: fruit, flower SCIENCE AND TECHNIqUES visited the studies and laboratories Th e Château is open © Château de Versailles, ZOOLOGY in geography and cartography; private laboratories drawn up during to the king and a demonstration in front every day except Jean-Marc Manaï Establishment of the and botanical, equipped with hothouses MEDICINE, SUrGErY, PHArMACOLOGY of pioneering researchers. When EIGHT EXAMPLES OF PrESENTATIONS Museum and National on cross-breeding species of sheep. WErE TAUGHT versailles, PLACE At Versailles, in the king’s private of the Court achieved the supreme on Mondays and some © Château de Versailles, he discovered astronomy when he the Revolution, the image of the TO THE KING Or DEMONSTrATIONS Estate of Versailles, From 1660 on, unprecedented Lafosse, from father to son, farriers and ponds for the aquatic plants. he returned to Versailles in 1722, libraries apartment, the royal collections consecration, the equivalent of today’s public holidays, or when Christian Milet OF rOYAL PrACTICAL was 11. Alongside these classes he began “locksmith king” is seen to be a caricature. BEFOrE THE COUrT offi cial ceremonies © RMN, Franck Raux thanks to the sponsorship in the stables of the Petite Écurie, both In 1759, Bernard de Jussieu, a botany The Court was not the setting for From Louis XIV to Louis XVI, and laboratories were built. In 1744, of the Alten group progress was made in animal anatomy. SCIENCE to study anatomy and surgery and then His practical devotion to science, of scientifi c curiosities and instruments Nobel prize. Th e scientists also hoped are held. © RMN, René-Gabriel demonstrator in the King’s Medicinal experiments as such but, by calling on the teaching of science to the princes Louis XV transformed the prestigious and the Compagnie The Menagerie of Versailles specialists in the medical care developed an interest in botany. He read and above all techniques, aside from were continually enriched with new that their devices would be purchased - The burning mirror presented by Villette Peak season: Ojéda – before that limited to looking hoping to sell it to Louis XIV (1669); © RMN, Gérard Blot de Saint-Gobain contributed to this by supplying of horses, made advances in farriery, Garden, produced the catalogue the best scientific minds and promoting Cabinet of Medals of Louis XIV into masterpieces: mechanical pieces by the Crown, or taken on by 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, In the studies of Louis XIV with their much, assiduously consulted the maps his personal interest, reveals his last admission: 6:00 pm. © RMN, Michèle Bellot anatomy and veterinary science. of this garden where the plants were new techniques, it contributed to progress at the “curious” aspects of scientifi c a laboratory for the use of the Abbé - The electricity experiment orchestrated the corpses of its animals to scientists. precious collections, there were in his geography gallery, attended determination to make the military, of furniture, barometers, astronomical manufacturers because all capital, © RMN, Droits réservés distributed according to his new “natural” in the medical sciences. The King’s phenomena and the acquisition Nollet, a pioneer in the new science by the Abbé Nollet in 1746 in the Hall of Mirrors, Low season: © RMN, Hervé In preparation for the Academy’s few scientifi c instruments, books dissections, collected plants in Trianon, economic and industrial strength clocks, etc. A dining room was held by both the royal Treasury 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Histoire naturelle 4-2 method. Duchesne carried out his doctors Fagon, Chirac, Helvétius, Sénac, of practical skills – was transformed of electricity, which later was transferred a typical science show (1746); Lewandowski publication of the or manuscripts for, although observed the night sky and never missed of the kingdom the greatest in Europe. transformed into a conservatory and individuals, was concentrated last admission: 5:00 pm © RMN, Daniel Arnaudet des animaux experiments here on the hybridizing Lassone and Vicq d’Azyr, the surgeons into methodical courses taught by to the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs to - The Creation of the World clock presented , a project supported BOTANY he protected the sciences, Louis XIV any astronomical event. In the park of curiosities. Expert in naval matters, in the Court. © Musée des arts With the support of of strawberries, research which was Félix, Maréchal, Dionis, La Peyronie the greatest scientists at the cutting become the Physics Laboratory of the to Louis XV to promote the fame of its inventor, et métiers-Cnam, Paris, by Colbert, Claude Perrault of his small Château de La Muette, his unlike Louis XV, Louis XVI collected fundamental for the evolution of species. and La Martinière, the apothecaries edge of their speciality. royal children. On the eve of the did not himself carry out any scientifi c Passemant, as it had already been sold (1754); photo Philippe Hurlin and Du Verney carried out dissections, Created to supply the royal tables, work, unlike his successors whose optics and physics laboratory had the scale models and construction plans Because of a widespread suspicion © Musée des arts Lémery and the Boulduc dynasty marked Revolution, the ethnographic cabinet - The map of Cassini, to convince the King to raise sometimes on the spot. In 1681, the king’s Kitchen Garden, covering scientifi c laboratories were set up on largest existing telescope in the world. of ships, as well as views of the ports of charlatans and madmen, royal et métiers-Cnam, Paris, the period with their publications Th e scientifi c subjects focussed on of curiosities of the Marquis de Serent the finance needed for its completion (1785); photo Michèle Favareille Louis XIV watched the dissection 9 hectares, was also a place of scientific three fl oors around the Cour des Cerfs. He sought out the company of scientists: of France, including Cherbourg, authorisation was not easy to obtain. © Musée Lorrain, Nancy, and practices. When kings and princes was acquired for the princes. Alongside - The manufacturing process of hard-paste of an elephant and a crocodile. experimentation directed by AGrONOMY were geometry for the art of fortifi cations the astronomers Cassini II and his one of the great achievements of the Nevertheless, there were very frequent photo C. Philippot submitted their royal body and scientifi c instruments (globes, mathema- porcelain, to promote the production of the Later on, La Peyronie, Senior Surgeon La Quintinie. Although he produced and for artillery, geography for son Cassini de Thury, the Lemonnier reign. Expert also in cartography, presentations made to the king, © RMN, Agence Bulloz, blood to medical treatment, they made the analysis of military maps and plans, tics sets) and treatises dedicated Gazette de France Sèvres manufactory (1769); Musée Carnavalet to Louis XV, then Buffon, the marvellous results in the cultivation The years after 1740 saw a sharp rise brothers, one an astronomer and the king corrected maps himself. Aft er as attested in the © Des Signes, Paris it exemplary and authoritative: to the young princes, the fi rst teaching - The Dulcimer Player, acquired by the Queen director of the Royal Garden in Paris of melons, peaches, pears and peas, in interest in agronomy and the rural and astronomy, regarded as a subject the other a doctor-botanist, the surgeon following the voyages of Captain Cook and the Journal des Savants. Jardin des Plantes the operation on the fistula of Louis XIV, worthy of kings. In the mid-18th century, instruments appeared, with those as a curiosity, and finally donated to the Academy (the future ) his real innovations were with economy. On the personal initiative La Peyronie, and among the courtiers, and their tragic end, he decided on The demonstrations before all the SIGNES. DES the use of new remedies based of the Abbé Nollet in the front rank. of Sciences owing to its scientific value (1784); also used the animals of the royal zoo, asparagus and figs as well as the large- of Louis XV, agricultural experiments the experimental sciences (physics, the Duc d’Ayen, the Duc de Croÿ and and took part in the preparation of the Court were rarer and more like science on antimony, ipecac and cinchona, and - Mesmer’s “Tub”, an example on the fringe notably the rhinoceros of Louis XV, scale use of very expensive cloches were conducted around Trianon on chemistry) truly had their place the Duc de Chaulnes. The latter above 26. Louis XVI giving scientifi c expedition of La Pérouse. shows. They entertained and satisfied the inoculation of the princes against in Versailles. Th e princes learned about his Instructions to of charlatanism (1781); for their studies. Inspired by and glass forcing frames. In the the prevention of rot in wheat and on the all was a famous scientist, the inventor 23. Passemant’s Captain La Pérouse Above his private apartment Louis XVI the curiosity for novelty; and they could Mme de Pompadour, the great friend 18th century, Le Normand father and improvement of fodder and vegetable smallpox after the death of Louis XV. animals and botany on walks around astronomical clock on 29 June 1785, had ten laboratories, workshops and also further the prestige of the kingdom. - Lastly, the Balloon of the Montgolfier brothers, de Versailles, , Château 19. A Pineapple 21. Th e Anatomical of measuring instruments. The art the most celebrated of the demonstrations before 26 OCTOBEr 2010 TO 27 FEBrUArY 2011 of Buffon, Louis XV had a new son acclimatized coffee and pineapple crops. Furthermore, in the mezzanine To eliminate charlatans and poisoners, Trianon. in a Pot, Angel, Jacques Gautier (detail), 1749-1753 Nicolas André Monsiau, libraries, including a chemistry collections of Louis XV no longer held 1817 the Court, which secured its inventors the support “domestic” menagerie built in Trianon plants here. When Louis XV decided of the Château, Quesnay and his Louis XV set up the Commission for Jean-Baptiste Oudry, Dagoty, 1746 24. Pneumatic laboratory, a physics gallery where 1733 paintings, sculptures or precious stones machine 27. Passemant’s of the King and furthered the prestige of the from 1749 to 1751 which contained in 1750 to lay out new gardens physiocratic friends collected agricultural Secret Remedies most of whose members 22. Th e Child Louis he carried out experiments in electricity, kingdom because all the ambassadors of foreign With the exceptional participation of 20. Antoine Parmentier XV Receiving a but scientific instruments of which the of the Abbé Nollet, Creation of the World were officers of the Court. The Royal countries attended (1783). cow sheds, a sheepfold, hen houses in Trianon, he entrusted the project and economic statistics for drawing (1737-1806), Mathematics Lesson Passemant clock was the finest treasure. 1750-1755 clock, (detail), 1754 an artillery laboratory for studying and an aviary. It was built to entertain, to Claude Richard, a horticulturist up the Tableau œconomique, 1758 Society of Medicine replaced it in 1778. Agronomist and in the Presence of the 25. Microscope given 28. Th e Dulcimer new guns and canons, two rooms for Botanist, Regent and Cardinal de by Louis XV to king Player, Media partners but also for useful purposes: and specialist in hothouses, who with (economic table), a schematic François Dumont, Fleury, French school, Stanislas, Peter Kintzing and his fi ve lathes and a forge for his th 24 25 Direct Matin Direction de l’information et de la communication the acclimatization of foreign his son Antoine went on to build up presentation of the kingdom’s economy. l’Aîné, 1812 early 18 century Alexis Magny, 1751 David Roentgen, 1784 locksmith and carpentry workshops. ©