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The HALL of BATTLES is the largest room of the palace with 120 m of length and 13 m width. Under Louis XIV this South wing consisted of princely apartments on the first floor and apartments for members of the Royal court on the second floor.
In 1837 Louis-Philippe had this wing arranged in the form of gallery devoted to the military history of France.
It contains 35 large paintings representing the greatest victorious battles since the victory of Clovis at the battle of Tolbiac in 496 till Napoleon I at Wagram in 1809.
No defeat is represented, neither the Battle of the Gold Spurs nor the battle of Waterloo do appear among the painted subjects.
This elegant and imposing gallery also comprises 80 busts representing the princes, constables, marshals and generals who died as a combatant for France. It is clear that the chiefs of the armies were present on the battle field in that period of history.
A classic among these historical paintings is the battle of Rivoli Veronese in 1797 won by Consul Bonaparte against the Austrians.
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La Galerie des Batailles est la plus vaste salle du château avec 120 m de long et 13 m de large. Sous Louis XIV cette aile du Midi comportait des appartements princiers au premier étage et des appartements de courtisans au deuxième étage. Louis-Philippe la fit aménager en 1837 sous forme de galerie consacrée à l'histoire militaire de France.
Elle contient 35 grands tableaux représentant les plus grandes batailles victorieuses depuis la victoire de Clovis à la bataille de Tolbiac en 496 jusqu'à Napoléon Ier à Wagram en 1809.
Aucune défaite n'est représentée, ni la Bataille des Eperons d'Or ni la bataille de Waterloo ne figurent parmi les sujets.
La galerie à la fois élégante et imposante comporte également 80 bustes représentant des princes, connétables, maréchaux et généraux morts en combattant pour la France. Ce qui permet de constater qu'à cette époque les chefs des armées étaient présents sur le champ de bataille.
Un classique parmi ces tableaux historiques est celui de Philippoteaux représentant la bataille de Rivoli emportée par Bonaparte contre les Autrichiens en 1797.
Updated Mar 30, 2009
Address: Versailles, Château, Aile du Midi.
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Versailles was saved from ruin by the decision of King Louis-Philippe in 1833 to transform the castle into a museum of the French history. He wanted to celebrate “all glories of France” as well of the "Ancien Regime", the Revolution, Empire and Restoration.
Works were undertaken mainly in the south wing to transform the former apartments of the princes. The works were paid by Louis-Philippe in person.
Original paintings and sculptures were collected with the addition of works ordered to the artists of the time like Eugene Delacroix. Three thousand paintings were ordered by king Louis-Philippe. The museum was inaugurated in 1837 and comprises a great number of works of the first half of the 19th century. It should be noted that part of these paintings currently decorates the Northern wing of the castle with the Galleries of the 17th century.
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Versailles été sauvé de la ruine par la décision du Roi Louis-Philippe en 1833 de transformer le château en un musée de l'histoire de France pour y célébrer "toutes les gloires de la France" aussi bien de l'Ancien Régime, de la Révolution, de l'Empire et de la Restauration. Les travaux principalement dans l'aile du Midi où se trouvaient sous l'Ancien Régime les appartements des princes furent payés par Louis-Philippe en personne.
On rassembla des peintures et de sculptures originales en y ajoutant des œuvres commandées aux artistes de l'époque dont Eugène Delacroix. Trois mille tableaux furent commandés par le roi Louis-Philippe. Le musée fut inauguré en 1837 et comporte un grand nombre de peintures de la première moitié du XIXe siècle. Il faut noter qu'une partie de ces tableaux orne actuellement les l'aile Nord du château avec les Galeries du XVIIe siècle.
Updated Mar 30, 2009
Address: Versailles Château, Aile du Midi.
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Mon attention fut attirée par ce tableau d'abord parce que je connais Fleurus qui fait partie des nombreux champs de bataille qui abondent en Belgique mais encore plus parce que ce tableau représente en son coin supérieur droit le premier ballon d'observation militaire utilisé en 1794. La Bataille de Fleurus fut remportée par le général Jourdan sur l'armée autrichienne et elle ouvrit la Belgique aux armées de la Révolution.
Grâce à ce ballon les Français purent observer le dispositif des coalisés. (photo 2 détail)
Napoléon ne retiendra pas cette innovation dont la mobilité réduite ne permettait pas de suivre son rythme d'opération.
Le ballon d'observation réapparût sur un champ de bataille en Amérique avec la guerre de Sécession.
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Battle of Fleurus.
My attention was drawn by this painting because I know Fleurus which belongs to the many battle fields which abound in Belgium but even more because this painting represents in its right upper corner the first military observation balloon used.
The Battle of Fleurus in 1794 was won by the general Jourdan over the Austrian army and it opened Belgium to the armies of the Revolution.
Thanks to this balloon the French could observe the battle formation of the enemy. (photo 2)
Napoleon will not retain this innovation whose reduced mobility did not correspond to his fast rhythm of operations.
The observation balloon reappeared on a battle field in America with the American Civil War.
Written Oct 31, 2008
Address: Versailles, Galerie des Batailles.
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Write a ReviewMon attention fut attirée par ce tableau d'abord parce que je connais Fleurus qui fait partie des nombreux champs de bataille qui abondent en Belgique mais...
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