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Home , Charles de La Fosse, Diana of Versailles, Diana the Huntress, Gardens of Versailles, Grand Trianon, Jean Jouvenet

versailles and Antiquity Exhibition from 13 November 2012 to 17 March 2013

versailles was a new rome in several ways : in its impressive size, its ambition to endure through the centuries, and its many references to the great models of antiquity. in the 17 th century, antiquity was an impassable absolute, with which the most ambitious monarchs wished to rival : created versailles as the seat of power to revive that ancient greatness. antiquity is first and foremost a collection of works, material and artistic evidence, relics of a lost glorious civilisation that all the powerful rulers of the 17 th century coveted. more than any other european monarch, louis xiv sought to acquire the most prestigious ancient pieces or have them copied. versailles was their sanctuary: statues and busts in the state apartments and , cameos and medals and small bronzes in the king’s study. the collection at versailles provides the vision of antiquity recreated for the glory of the king. the exhibition will mark the return to versailles of nearly fifty ancient pieces where they were originally displayed during the ancien régime. the interpretation of antiquity and ancient mythology will be evoked by approximately two hundred works from major french and foreign collections: , paintings, drawings, engravings, , pieces and objets d’. through this exhibition, the public will be able to discover how antiquity influenced all areas of art, as well as the fascination for the gods and heroes of mythology and ancient history. 1 versailles, A NEW rOME

1. Lower Stone Gallery 2 Presence of Antiquity at Versailles

For the first time since the , the most prestigious The showpieces are grouped together ancient sculptures which adorned the at the foot of the staircase: the and gardens during the Ancien of Versailles, part of the royal Régime will return to Versailles. collections since the 16th century, At the entrance to the exhibition, one the of , given by the of the most spectacular statues is that of Arles to Louis XIV, the of Isis, which once stood in the rotunda , purchased in 1680, and, of the Orangerie. acquired after a hard-fought struggle Also on display in the Lower Gallery, from Rome in 1686, the Cincinnatus on high pedestals and alternating with and the Germanicus Savelli. yew trees, are the eight sculptures currently known to have stood in the Salle des Antiques grove. Beyond, the Muses which were once part of the scenery of the gardens of Marly also form a group.

1. Isis ancient statue, marble 2. statue, marble, late 1st century BC 3. statue, marble 2nd century AD 3 4 room 2(see map) THE PALACE OF THE SUN

Louis XIV turned Versailles into a genuine palace of the Sun, the dwelling place of Apollo exercising his beneficial influences 5 on earth. According to a view of the world inherited from Ancient times, the harmonious connection between the seasons, the elements and the planets, The four paintings of the seasons adorned are represented in the décor of the palace the great room at the royal pavilion and . in Marly. In ancient tradition, each season In the middle of the room, Latona and her was symbolised by a mythological children, Apollo and Diana, is a group deity: Flora for spring, for summer, from the main in the gardens. for autumn and Aeolus for It portrays the protection granted winter. These four paintings are reunited by , king of the gods, to Latona at Versailles for the first time. who, according to the myth, implored The four finest French painters of the time Jupiter for help. were asked to create these paintings: Antoine Coypel, Louis II de Boullogne, and . Summer is in , Autumn in Dijon and the last two Seasons, Spring and Winter, were deposited by the at the Promenade Museum of Marly-le- Roi-Louveciennes. These four paintings are reunited at Versailles for the first time.

4. Cincinnatus Savelli statue, marble 2nd century AD 5. Latona 6. Bacchus and Ariadne, by Gaspard or Autumn and Balthasar Marsy, by Charles de la Fosse, 1668 - 1670, 1699 - 1700, 6 group sculpted in marble oil on canvas 5 7 The famous women of Antiquity were not forgotten at Versailles. Numerous heroines are also represented in the archivolts of the State Apartment room 3 of the Queen. At the far end of the room, a monumental Ancient Heroes painting by Rubens portrays Tomyris, and Heroines Queen of the Scythians, who defeated Cyrus and had his decapitated head The great men of Antiquity served plunged into a vase filled with blood, as models for the monarchs of Versailles. telling him to drink his fill. This That is why the figures of Alexander painting was displayed behind the royal the Great as well as Trajan, Augustus, throne in the Apollo Salon at Versailles Severus Alexander or Cyrus, the as a warning to the king, encouraging renowned king of Persia, can be found him to moderate his thirst to conquer. in the Palace’s décor. Given that Versailles was a summary of the ancient world, all of the main were represented there in the works 7. Tomyris, Queen of the Scythians Massagets, and décors: Rome, as well as Babylon has the head of Cyrus and Rhodes, which are evoked by plunged into a vase filled with blood monumental tapestries. by Pierre-Paul Rubens, 9. : Apollo 1620 - 1625, on Mount painting, oil on canvas by Jean Lefebvre 8. Hanging of the Story in the style of Pierre of Alexander Mignard, 1692 - 1701, after the cartoons high-warp tapestry by workshop of conserved at the Louvre, the Manufacture the entry of Alexander des Gobelins, wool, into Babylon or the silk and gold Triumph of Alexander 10. Turquin blue circa 1670, marble vase Manufacture des by Valerio Furgone, Gobelins, wool, silk, circa 1683 - 1684 gold and silver or 1686 - 1692 8 9 room 4 10 Mount Parnassus

The theme of Apollo and the muses on Mount Parnassus is used to evoke the protection the French monarch room5 granted to artists and Versailles is its most beautiful reflection. Ancient Materials The great tapestry of Mount Parnassus, created after Mignard, shows The influence of Antiquity has not limited an element of the gallery of the itself to the subjects of the works and de Saint-Cloud, residence of the brother décors; it has extended to the materials of Louis XIV. It adorned the antechamber used, such as marble, bronze, alabaster, of the Grand Couvert at Versailles. porphyry, making Versailles a new Rome. The muses were also present in the décor The porphyry and ancient yellow of the Ambassadors’ staircase, the grand marble vases displayed in this room were ceremonial staircase of the Palace part of the décor of the Hall of . of Versailles. The one made of Turquin blue marble The great cartoons of the muses was in the War Room. The watercolours Euterpe and Melpomene were projects are in keeping with the coloured marble for this décor which was unfortunately wall panels of the Bath apartment, destroyed in the mid-18th century. which was located on the ground floor According to a preliminary project, of the Palace’s central building. the water in front of the Palace’s Coloured marble was also used in the façade was supposed to illustrate gardens, as illustrated by the Colonnade Apollo reigning on Mount Parnassus, grove, represented in gouache by Cotelle, and overseeing world order, as well as numerous bronze sculptures, symbolized by a display of allegories. such as the two copies in ancient style, casted by Keller, from the Orangerie. MAP

1 - Lower stone 5 - Second 9 - The Smalah Gallery Crimea room Corridor Presence of Antiquity Ancient Materials 10 - The Smalah at Versailles 6 - Small Gallery room 2 - The Sculptures inspired The Grand Project Constantine by Antiquity Ancient-style celebrations room 7 - Third Crimea The Palace of the Sun room 3 - The Morocco Gallant Mythology room 8 - Fourth Heroes and Heroines Crimea room of Antiquity Permanence of Antiquity 4 - First Crimea in the 18th century room entrance Mount Parnassus

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9

8 7 2 CONTINUED 6 1

4 5

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Room 7 11 Gallant Mythology

From the end of the , Room Gallant Mythology was particularly 6 popular at Versailles, as well as Sculptures Inspired in the décors of the by Antiquity and the Château de Meudon, residence of the Grand Dauphin, son of Ancient was a source of constant Louis XIV. The main deities of Gallant inspiration for the artists of Versailles Mythology are Venus and Cupid. and Marly. For the gardens of the satellite Psyche and Cupid constitute the theme residence of Versailles, Louis XIV of the great tapestry created after ordered the creation of an original Jules Romain, which adorned programme around Diana and her the Salon des Nobles of the Queen’s companions: among others, Flamen, State Apartment in the 18th century. a sculptor, successively created the The preliminary model for the décor groups of Diana and Callisto. of the vault in the Hercules Salon depicts Also for Marly, in order to compose an amorous aspect of the myth: a group of figures running, Lepautre after his death, Hercules was welcomed copied a famous ancient sculpture on Mount Olympus by Jupiter, portraying Atalanta and Coustou sculpted who presented him with his future wife, Hippomenes chasing her. Two statues of the beautiful , goddess of youth. Venus Callipyge (Venus of the beautiful buttocks) were copied, one for Versailles, the other for Marly, from one of the most famous ancient models: they do however have some rather significant variations; one of them has a modest veil covering her buttocks.

13 Room 8 Permanence of Antiquity in 15 the 18th century

Giving into a new fashion, the main figures of the court had their portraits painted With their medallions portraying dressed up as mythological figures: the muses, the monumental woodwork Nattier depicted , illustrates the revival of ancient forms Louis XV’s mistress, as and themes in the last third of the holding a bow, as well as the king’s 18th century. That rediscovered fondness daughters, depicted as Diana or Flora. of the nobility of ancient forms is also magnificently illustrated by the five pairs of gilded bronze andirons placed in the fireplaces.

11. Callisto 14. The by Anselme Flamen, of the Muses (Calliope) 1696, attributed to the studio group, marble of Jules Hugues Rousseau 12. Atalanta and his brother by Pierre Lepautre, Jean Siméon Rousseau, 1703-1704, circa 1785, statue, marble carved and painted wood 13. Iris and Morpheus 15. Mme de Pompadour René Antoine Houasse, as Diana 1688-1689, Jean-Marc Nattier, 14 painting, oil on canvas oil on canvas Room 9 17 16 The Grand Project Room At Versailles, the penchant for antiquity 10 was such that Louis XVI considered Ancient Style almost entirely rebuilding the palace Celebrations he had inherited from his predecessors. The projects presented show that the new The impressive ancient-style colonnade Versailles was to surpass the colossal presented on the table is in reality size of the of ancient Rome. a centrepiece used to adorn a banquet That dream was compromised by the table. This extraordinary object financial crisis which would overcome was used for the wedding feast of the the monarchy. future Louis XVI to Archduchess Marie-Antoinette, on 17 May 1770. Many of the 1770 wedding festivities took place at the Royal Opera of the , which had recently been built. One of the stage scenery projects for this performance venue, enlarged for the exhibition, shows an ancient triumphal and rostral column. In this way, Antiquity was present even on stage, for the enjoyment of the monarchs and court of Versailles. 17. Centrepiece from the 16. Barometer wedding of the Dauphin of Louis XV or Great Anonymous, attributed Barometer of Louis XV to the Beurdeley House, and Louis XVI Royal factory Jean-Joseph Lemaire, of Sevres, sculptor; Mazière, 1769 - 1770, soft paste, gilder; and Toré, optician, entablature made of 1772 - 1776, porcelain bisque, gilded carved and gilded oak, bronze, , marble 16 ebony-plated walnut from the 19th century Useful information: Social Networks The exhibition runs from 13 November 2012 Château de Versailles to 17 March 2013 Daily, except Mondays, 9 am – 5:30 pm @CVersailles (last admission at 5 pm) Château de Versailles The exhibition is open to visitors with Passeport chateauversailles or Palace tickets Free for European Union residents under the age of 26. Game Booklet Exhibition Catalogue For children ages 6-12 Co-published with Artlys Available at information points. Available at the museum shops and www.boutique-chateauversailles.fr

Le Jeu des 7 erreurs Dans ce tableau de René-Antoine Houasse, intitulé Minerve enseigne l’art de la sculpture aux Rhodiens, sept petites erreurs se sont glissées.

Ouvre l’œil et repère-les !

336 pages, 250 illustrations € 50 Available in bookstores as of 28 November Game booklet is free

The exhibition is organised by the Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles.

With the exceptional contribution of the Louvre Museum.

In media partnership with

LE MAGAZINE The Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles RP 834 – 78 008 Versailles cedex Information and reservations at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 00 www.chateauversailles.fr

Opening Times Graphic Design Credits

The Palace is open daily, Information © JM. Manaï except Mondays and and Communication © Christian Milet certain public holidays, Department, © RMN - or during official Palace of Versailles (Musée du Louvre) ceremonies: Graphic design: René-Gabriel Ojéda high season Des Signes, . © RMN - Grand Palais 9 am – 6:30 pm, (Musée du Louvre) Last admission: 6 pm. Gérard Blot low season © RMN - Grand Palais 9 am – 5:30 pm, (Château de Versailles) Last admission: 5 pm. Gérard Blot © RMN - (Musée du Louvre) Les frères Chuzeville © RMN- Grand Palais (Musée du Louvre) Hervé Lewandowski © Musée des Beaux- de Dijon. Photo François Jay © RMN-Grand Palais (Château de Versailles) Christian Jean Jean Schormans © RMN-Grand Palais (Château de ) Gérard Blot © RMN-Grand Palais (Musée du Louvre) Jean Schormans The Palace of Versailles presents

VERSAILLES & Antiquity Exhibition From 13 November 2012 to 17 March 2013 Open daily, except Mondays, 9 am – 5:30 pm, last admission at 5 pm Information and reservations on +33 (0)1 30 83 78 00

www.chateauversailles.fr