Bulletin du Centre de Recherche du Château de Versailles (Dec 2011)
L’appartement de Louis-Philippe Ier au Grand Trianon
Abstract
The Grand Trianon is a treasure trove of furniture, interior decoration and works of art which bear witness to the memory of the kings who once lived there. Amongst them is Louis-Philippe, the last sovereign to have renovated the palace in order to accommodate his large family—his wife the queen Marie-Amélie, his sister Madame Adélaïde, his children the princes and the princesses. In the mid-19th century, the July Monarchy saw a societal transformation in taste and lifestyle choices—influenced by increasing industrialization—contributing to a move towards more comfortable and functional dwellings. Louis Philippe’s renovations to the Grand Trianon, in particular those of his private apartment, were a clear response to these contemporary convictions. Indeed, by examining the floor plan and the furniture choices for each room, we can detect the personality and the predilections of the king: his requirements for the furnishings, the layout and the links between each room. However, this study also reveals many contradictions between the rupture made manifest by the king’s choice of living quarters—Louis-Philippe was the only king to have given up the official apartments of the right wing in favor of the rooms previously used as offices—and the historical continuity represented by his choice of furniture.
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