The kings of
France, the members of their families and immediate entourage, great
French warriors, statesmen, artists, men of letters and science are
depicted on canvases that line the immense halls of Versailles. The
Gallery of Warriors was arranged by Louis Philippe in that part of the
palace formerly occupied by Madame de Montespan. The Gallery of
Napoleon, created by removing the partition from a dozen rooms
belonging to various members of the royal family, presents a complete
history of the Emperor's life. More than a hundred apartments, large
and small, were obliterated to make room for the galleries of
portraits--a most engrossing exhibition to students of French history.
Carlyle said, "I have found that the Portrait was a small lighted
candle by which the Biographies could for the first time be read, and
some human interpretation be made of them."
Unfortunately a considerable number of paintings hung in the new museum
suffered in quality through the desire of Louis Philippe to bring his
achievement to immediate completion. He gave commissions right and
left, always with the stipulation that the artists _make haste_. But
many canvases of high merit, artistically and historically, still grace
the walls of these galleries.
Portraits of the four unmarried daughters of Louis XV have been
appropriately arranged by the present curator of Versailles, Monsieur
de Nolhac, in the apartments on the ground floor where Mesdames passed
most of their dull, insignificant lives.
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