Hall of Mirrors: History and Restoration Book

Preface Christine Albanel Albanel, Christine

Preface Pierre Arizzoli-Clementel Arizzoli-Clementel, Pierre

An Exceptional Corporate Sponsorship Scheme Pierre Coppey Coppey, Pierre 14

Panoramic Survey of the Vault 21

Introduction: Charles Le Brun and the Hall of Mirrors: a moment in French art history Jacques Thuillier Thuillier, Jacques 22

The Poetic Art of Le Brun 30

First Chapter

The History of the Hall

Architectural work in the "Grande Galerie" Alexandre Maral Maral, Alexandre 40

The marbles and the mirrors 52

The Hall of Mirrors during Louis XIV's reign: from the ordinary to the extraordinary Beatrix Saule Saule, Beatrix 54

Life in the Hall of Mirrors from the 18th century to the present day Christian Baulez Baulez, Christian 74

The "Grande Galerie" and its furnishings from Louis XIV to the present day C. Baulez Baulez, C. 84

The Antique trophies by Pierre Ladoyreau 96

Restorations and restitutions: previous interventions A. Maral Maral, A. Nathalie Volle Volle, Nathalie 104

Second Chapter

A Total Work of Art

The iconographic system: a symbolic edifice Nicolas Milovanovic Milovanovic, Nicolas 120

The Hall of Mirrors, a reflection of the reign?: the Dutch War and royal glory tempered Claire Constans Constans, Claire 134

The portrait of the king: Louis XIV in the decor of the Hall of Mirrors N. Milovanovic Milovanovic, N. 142

The role of the ornamentation: Le Brun, a decorative artist of genius Alain Merot Merot, Alain 154

The inscriptions in the Hall: an "epigraphy of glory" Florence Vuilleumier Laurens Laurens, Florence Vuilleumier Pierre Laurens Laurens, Pierre 172

The contribution of stratigraphicanalyses to our knowledge of the inscriptions Nathalie Balcar Balcar, Nathalie 180

The studio of Le Brun: the paintings N. Milovanovic Milovanovic, N. 182

Sculptors in the Hall: participation in a monumental decor A. Maral Maral, A. 194

The Antique statues and busts of emperors 208

Third Chapter

The thirty paintings explained

An allegorised history of the first eighteen years of Louis XIV's reign Lydia Beauvais Beauvais, Lydia 214

Fourth Chapter

The Restoration 2004-2007

From project to worksite, VINCI's contribution Patrick Palem Palem, Patrick 290

The role of the Scientific Council Denis Lavalle Lavalle, Denis Francois Mace de Lepinay de Lepinay, Francois Mace 298

From prior study to implementation,an exceptional technical and human adventure Frederic Didier Didier, Frederic Arnaud Amelot Amelot, Arnaud 302

C2RMF, from knowledge to restoration N. Balcar Balcar, N. Beatrice Lauwick Lauwick, Beatrice Jean Marsac Marsac, Jean Elisabeth Martin Martin, Elisabeth Christiane Naffah Naffah, Christiane N. Volle Volle, N. 318

The paintings N. Balcar Balcar, N. E. Martin Martin, E. Cinzia Pasquali Pasquali, Cinzia Alain Roche Roche, Alain Veronique Sorano-Stedman Sorano-Stedman, Veronique 320

The painters' original techniques 322

The contribution of stratigraphic studies to our knowledge of previous restorations 328

The 2004-2007 restoration: Le Brun's palette rediscovered 332

"Monsieur et le prince de Conde": restoration of a double portrait 348

The sculptural elements Antoine Amarger Amarger, Antoine N. Balcar Balcar, N. Fanny Cerri Cerri, Fanny Maria Gabriella De Monte De Monte, Maria Gabriella Paolo Gessani Gessani, Paolo A. Maral Maral, A. Lucien Nicolas Mariotti Mariotti, Nicolas P. Palem Palem, P. Mickael Penet Penet, Mickael A. Maral Maral, A. 354

The sculptor's original techniques 356

Previous interventions 364

The 2004-2007 restoration: gilding reinstated in the Hall 366

The Architectural Decors A. Amelot Amelot, A. F. Didier Didier, F. Vincent Guerre Guerre, Vincent P. Palem Palem, P. M. Penet Penet, M. A. Amelot Amelot, A. F. Didier Didier, F. 372

The marble panelling 374

The mirror arcatures 380

List of Participants B. Lauwick Lauwick, B. 384

Chronology 386

Notes 388

Appendices 400

Bibliography 410

Index 414