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This room underwent a number of modifications during the reign of Louis XIV, most notably in 1678 when the western windows the open onto the terrace were suppressed when the Hall of Mirrors was constructed (Félibien, 60-61). When the chambre de Louis XIV was established in 1701, the room became the ideological as well as physical focal point of the palace (Baillie, 169-199; Verlet, 213).
As a measure of economy, Louis XIV retained much of the decor of the salon du roi in decoration of the chambre de Louis XIV. The over-door paintings included "The Portrait of Francisco de Moncada" and a "Self-portrait" the two by Anthony van Dyck, "Saint John the Baptist" by Caravaggio, and "Mary Magdalene" by Guido Reni. Domenichino's "Saint Cecilia" was placed in the cornice setting of the south wall above the fireplace and the artist's "King David playing the harp" hung as pendant opposite on the north wall (Félibien, 61).
The western wall of the room became the wall of the alcove - the area of the room separated by a balustrade in which the bed was located. The decoration of the alcove, with the ornaments of the agrafe and volutes as well as the trelliswork sculpture, anticipate in many respects anticipates the style Régence that was in vogue between 1715-1723. Crowning the bed is Nicolas Coustou's relief sculpture, "France Triumphant", which is complemented by two relief sculptures of "Fame" by François Lespingola located in the pendentives of the arch (Verlet, 214).
The present brocade on the walls of the alcove and for the bed has been rewoven as part of the initiative of the Fifth Republic to restore Versailles. The original alcove and bed hangings were restored in 1736; and, in 1785, Louis XVI ordered the brocade burned from which he obtained over 60 kilograms of gold. The present hanging, while accurate for the period, are not a reproduction of the brocaded that originally hung in the chambre de Louis XIV. Owing to lack of archival information when the project was under taken, it was decided to use the pattern for hangings of the tenture d'hiver for the queen's bedroom. Only after the project was underway were the original designs found; as the part of the project had been completed, it was decided to use the queen's tenture d'hiver (Meyer, 1989, 79-104; Verlet, 214). On 1 September 1715, Louis XIV died in this room. |
