The Italian Musicians' house. It was built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1752 and lies almost opposite Madame Elisabeth's orangerie.
It was erected on the site of the house where Louis the 14th welcomed
Italian castrati attached to the royal chapel in 1710. It was later
occupied by Madame de Marsan, governess to the king's children and the
botanist L. G. Le Monnier. Nothing is left of his botanic garden though the public garden has received a makeover recently. It is
now the headquarters of the French guild of itinerant craftsmen for the Yvelines department of which Versailles is 'county town'.
Elle fut construite en 1752 par Jules Hardouin-Mansart de Sagonne et se trouve quasiment en face de l'orangerie de Madame Elisabeth.
Elle fut érigée sur le site de la maison où, en 1710, Louis XIV
accueillit les "sopranistes" ou castrats italiens attachés à la chapelle
royale. Plus tard, elle fut occupée par Madame de Marsan, gouvernante
des enfants du roi, puis par le botaniste L. G. Le Monnier, dont le
jardin botanique n'a pas été conservé. Le jardin attenant a récemment été Actuellement, c'est le siège de
l'Union des Compagnons du Tour de France.
What a beautiful building, no wonder the architect was so beloved! If it weren't mid-winter, I could sit in that bench all day. Long ago, a friend played me one of the only recordings of a castrato, I'd never heard anything like it. (PS So much happened in Verdun, what it must be like to drive through...)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful building indeed! And I do love your snowy capture for the day, Ciel! Hope your week is off to a great start! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteReally a beautiful building.
ReplyDeleteNice capture with the bench. It looks so serene.
ReplyDeleteThe guild of itinerant French craftsmen. Now there's a concept. Wandering from town to town, making accordions and hand-binding cookbooks?
ReplyDeleteLove this building. Your photograph is excellent.
ReplyDeleteA guild for itinerant craftsmen? Hmmm. Trying to figure out who they might be and what they might make.
Moi je vois juste le banc.. :o)
ReplyDeleteThe composition with the bench is spectacular, you are an artist my friend, well done!
ReplyDeleteLéia
@ Bob and Jack: I've added a link.
ReplyDeleteWow such history. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter started a blog. Go to:
ritzvilleranchlife.blogspot.com and see Ritzville up close and personal. MB
The benches need to be re-designed! :-)
ReplyDeleteLes compagnons du tour de France ? Avec ou sans EPO ?
ReplyDeleteLovely composition Ciel, have you shown us this building in different seasons?
ReplyDeletewhat beautiful architecture :)
ReplyDeleteA lovely little abode. That bench doesn't look inviting right now, but I bet it's a nice place to sit in the spring or summer. :)
ReplyDeleteje vais attendre un peu avant d bouquiner sur ce banc
ReplyDeleteà moins d'avoir un pantalon étanche
One more bench for me, and a very nice one!
ReplyDeleteNow, this a wonderfully composed shot, Ciel! Love it.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, especially with a dusting of the white stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat building would be a great inspiration for beautiful music.
ReplyDeleteThe bench adds warmth to the picture even though it would be too cold to sit on. I also like that the building has lots of windows.
ReplyDeleteThis is a stately building!
ReplyDeleteI'm sleepy. I read this as "Internet" craftsmen. I'm glad I as wrong :-) It should be something historic in this beautiful old setting. The bench looks nice.
ReplyDelete