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The conversion began in 1771, under the direction of Georg Christian Unger, at which time the interiors received the rich, Rococo décors that have remained intact over time.
The building's basic elements were left alone, as were its size and floor-to-ceiling french doors. The most obvious change was the addition of a cupola on the middle section. The similarities between the architecture of the New Chambers and that of the Picture Gallery are such that the both buildings can be mistaken for the other.
The "New Chambers" is a succession of opulently decorated ceremonial halls and private suites, designed by the leading artists of Frederick the Great's era. The rectangular-shaped Jasper Hall at the center of the palace, ornamented with precious stones, is a highlight among the series of rooms. It is crowned by a large ceiling painting with a representation of Venus, referring to 18th century ideals of beauty. In the adjacent Ovid Gallery, scenes from the Roman poet Ovid's "Metamorphosis" - a favorite theme of Frederick the Great - are depicted in sumptuously gilded wall reliefs. |
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