Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 3: France and the Netherlands, Part 1 — John Shaqi
Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 3: France and the Netherlands, Part 1
History
Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 3: France and the Netherlands, Part 1
France -- Description and travel; Netherlands -- Description and travel
The Galerie de Diane, built by Napoleon I. and Louis XVIII., replaces
the famous frescoed gallery of Henri IV. It is now turned into a
library for the use of the town. In the center is a picture of Henri
IV. on horseback, by Mauzaise. The Salles des Chasses contain pictures
of hunting scenes under Louis XV. We now reach the glorious Galerie d'
Henri II. (or Salle des Fêtes), built by François I., and decorated by
Henri II. The walnut-wood ceiling and the paneling of the walls are of
marvelous richness. Over the chimney is a gigantic H, and the initials
of Henri II. are constantly seen interlaced with those of Diane de
Poitiers.... The sixty paintings on the walls, including eight large
compositions, were executed by Niccolo Dell' Abbate, and are probably
the finest decorations of the kind existing in France.
The rooms usually shown last are those formerly inhabited by Catherine
de Medici and Anne of Austria, and which, under the First Empire, were
used by Pius VII., under Louis Philippe, by the Duke and Duchess of
Orleans. The most interesting of these are the Chambre à Coucher, which
bears the oft-repeated A L (the chiffre of Louis XIII. and Anne of
Austria), and in which Pius VII. daily said mass, and the Salon, with
its fine tapestry after Giulio Romano. The Galerie des Assiettes,
adorned with Sévres china, only dates from Louis Philippe. Hence, by a
gallery in the Aile Neuve, hung with indifferent pictures, we may visit
the Salle du Theâtre, retaining its arrangements for the emperor,
empress, and court.
The Gardens, as seen now, are mostly as they were rearranged by Lenôtre
for Louis XIV. The most frequented garden is the Parterre, entered from
the Place du Cheval-Blanc. In the center of the Jardin Anglais (entered
through the Cour de la Fontaine) was the Fontaine Bleau, which is
supposed by some to have given a name to the palace. The Etang has a
pavilion in the center, where the Czar Peter got drunk. The carp in the
pool, overfed with bread by visitors, are said to be, some of them, of
immense age. John Evelyn mentions the carp of Fontainebleau, "that come
familiarly to hand." The Jardin de l' Orangerie, on the north of the
palace, called Jardin des Buis under Francois I., contains a good
renaissance portal. To the east of the parterre and the town is the
park, which has no beauty, but harmonizes well with the château.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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