The Palace of Versailles reports that, following major restoration, the Hall of Mirrors has now been has returned to its authentic historical appearance, with only six central chandeliers.
Recently, the Hall of Mirrors has been revealed in a light more faithful to that of the Ancien Régime. Although thousands of candles illuminated the glasswork during the rare grand balls held there, particularly for the weddings of the Dauphins, this ‘ballroom’ lighting was dismantled by the Menus Plaisirs immediately afterwards. The chandeliers are accessories and are not part of the gallery's décor. The decision in 1980 to permanently evoke the atmosphere of these grand celebrations was in response to a need to bring the château to life, but it contradicted the true, grandiose and solemn appearance of the Gallery as it was designed under Louis XIV.
Starting in the summer of 2025, as part of historic restoration work, some of the chandeliers will be removed in favour of more balanced lighting. This will mainly consist of the twenty-four torches that were also recreated in 1980, with their girandoles, and a few chandeliers that were preserved at certain times during the 18th century.
This lighting restores the gallery's subtlety and poetry of shadows and reflections, shaped by the 17 windows and 17 mirrored arcades. It also allows visitors to rediscover two great masterpieces: Jules Hardouin-Mansart's monument with its extraordinary proportions, and the ceiling painted by Charles Le Brun, now better lit, with its grand narrative of the exploits of Louis XIV.
The Hall of Mirrors | Palace of Versailles (chateauversailles.fr)
No comments:
Post a Comment