Palace of Versailles

Quick Facts

• Located in the outer suburbs of Paris

• Symbol of absolute monarchy

• Biggest investor = King Louis XIV

King Louis XIV

• Known as the Sun King

• Great interest in Versailles

• Grew up in disorders of Civil War

• 1678

Purpose of Palace of Versailles

• Power in center = government offices, homes of thousands of courtiers, their retinues, & attendant functionaries of the court lived in the Palace.

• Strict court etiquette that Louis XIV established was epitomized in elaborate ceremonies & parties.

Court Etiquette

• People who wanted to speak to the king could not knock on his door. Instead, using the left little finger, they had to gently scratch on the door, until they were granted permission to enter.

• A lady never held hands or linked arms with a gentleman. Besides being in bad taste, this practice would have been impossible because a woman ﾕ s hooped skirts were so wide. Instead, she was to place her hand on top of the gentlemanﾕ s bent arm as they strolled through the gardens and chambers of Versailles. It is also mentioned that the ladies were only allowed to touch fingertips with the men.

• Women and men were not allowed to cross their legs in public.• When a gentleman passed an acquaintance on the street, he was to raise his

hat high off his head until the other person passed.• A gentleman was to do no work except writing letters, giving speeches,

practicing fencing, or dancing. For pleasure, he engaged in hawking, archery, indoor tennis, or hunting. A gentleman would also take part in battle and would sometimes serve as a public officer, paying the soldiers.

Construction

• Drained swamps & moved forests to create 250 acres of formal gardens

• Entire estate = 2,000 acres

• 30,000 laborers• Charles Lebrun =

main decorater

Building Campaigns

• 4 building campaigns each corresponding with a war.

• 1st campaign~ to celebrate the two Queens of France

• Alterations in Chateau and garden

Building Campaigns Cont

• 2nd campaign~ LeVau’s envelope & two BIG apartments.

• King & Queen suites• 2 of 7 total suites

that were designed to align with each other as celestial bodies

Building Campaigns Cont.

• 3rd Campaign~ Hall Of Mirrors.

• 235 foot long ballroom lined along 1 side with 17 HUGE mirrors so courtiers could admire their own selves as they danced

• 4th Campaign~ Royal chapel