Yesterday afternoon, I treated myself to an afternoon off work and went to the palace chapel, where kings and queens attended mass. You've already partly seen the outside here. It was erected by Jules Hardouin-Mansart (yes, him again!) who started work onit in 1689, only to be interrupted by war. Building resumed in 1699 and it was eventually finished in 1710 by Hardouin-Mansart's brother in law, Robert de Cotte, as Mansart died in 1708. Several artists contributed to the inside decoration, one of the rare French examples of a painted chapel vault opposing the Old and New Testaments. More of why I went to the Chapel tomorrow!
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Hier après-midi, je me suis fait un menu plaisir : j'ai posé une demi-journée de congés pour me rendre à la chapelle royale du château, dont vous avez déjà en partie vu l'extérieur ici. Elle a été érigée par Jules Hardouin-Mansart (toujours lui !) qui débuta les travaux en 1689. Ils furent interrompus par la guerre et reprirent en 1699 pour s'achever en 1710, après la mort de Mansart auquel succéda son beau-frère Robert de Cotte. Plusieurs artistes eurent la charge de la décoration intérieure, un des rares exemples d'une voûte peinte en France qui oppose les Ancien et Nouveau Testaments. Demain, la suite du pourquoi je me rendais à la chapelle !
25 comments:
I just have to say WOW! I had to enlarge the picture to see that magnificent ceiling. Incredible.
Absolutely superb especially the abse. Once enlarged comes its magnificence.
I'm with Sharon and Fabrizio here.Totally.
Extremely beautiful and it looks like it holds so many details to absorb and learn from.
I fell across your site and am so thrilled to see these photos. I remember visiting Versailles years ago and have never forgotten it. Our tour was given by an art history student and she put the buildings and art into the context of the time. It was fascinating.
This is so beautiful!
What a great place to play hooky for the afternoon. Very elegant and historical. I can't wait to find out why you were there. I am glad you liked the ice plant and you have a good way with words and catch the ironies that exist in real life.
Beautiful, the ceiling is magnificent! This was difficult to view with the hoards of tourists in front when we were there.
Great shot of a wonderful place, excellent for a midweek afternoon off work!
Can't wait to know "why"...
c'est magique, ce plafond est une œuvre d'art.
Les bloggers ont bien de la chance que tu sois sur place pour nous offrir de telles merveilles.
Il faut expliquer à ton patron que tu participes au rayonnement de la France. C'est une nécessité.
Wow! This is gorgeous! What a ceiling!
ton patron devrait te donner une journée pour le reportage
François Mansart puis Jules Hardouin-Mansart puis Robert de Cotte, tout cela c'est des histoires de famille (je viens juste de vérifier pour le lien entre les deux Mansart. Le premier a donné les fameux toits à la Mansart et les mansardes)...
Comme la royauté en somme.
Oh my - how I wish we had such historical- beautiful - ornate places here. We miss France!
magnifique..as-tu confessé tous tes péchés en particulier que tu as séché ton boulot?
Makes man seem so small when compared to God.
Hé... ho... je n'ai pas séché le boulot...
It must be a huge place inside. The ceiling seems really far away.
This is such an outstanding ceiling!!!
Kind regards
Léia :-)
Beautiful! Your photo shows this beauty very well!
Churches like that must have seemed like heaven to those who attend church services there. Absolutely beautiful.
Wow, I love the symmetry in the photo. I can almost hear the organ music!
The ceiling is absolutely stunning.
It is indeed stunning. I have not forgotten my visit there.
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