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France 2010
Day 6 - 8th October - Fontainebleau Interior (Part 2)
The caisse (cashier) at the Château told me "vous parlez bien français". Hurr hurr. I think it's standard practise to compliment someone who is learning a language (and equally standard practise to demur and say you suck). This is evidenced by PRCs complimenting my Mandarin.
Besides the main Château route (2 hrs) there was also a shorter 1.5 hr route visiting le petit appartement - which I skipped as it was the secondary route, following a tour (in French) was necessary, and focused on Napoleon (who I wasn't that interested in). Besides, I had people waiting for me.
Ironically, they gave me a pamphlet in English - but had ran out of the French ones.
Before I saw the rooms of the Château-proper, I visited the Muséu du Napoleon.
Vase
Medals of the Order of the Legion of Honour
Sword of Napoleon, 1806
Napoleon I and Josephine in Coronation garb
Waterfall in the park of Wilhelmshöhe
Partial reconstruction of Napoleon's tent on campaign
Horse artillery
This is not Elisa - she's probably Hortense
Napoleon again
Ceiling
The baptism of one of the Louis. This took place at Fontainebleau.
It is hard to tell good shots of smudgy paintings from bad ones - I had a big headache sorting through the photos of paintings in this blog post.
Henry IV embracing Sully (a slandered counsellor). This took place at Fontainebleau too.
Louis XIV and a plan of the place in 1713 (it isn't that different today)
As you can see, it's quite similar to Versailles; while châteaux aren't that different, there's still a significant amount of variation among them - but Fontainebleau and Versailles are quite similar
Ceiling
Plates in Gallery of Plates
Gallery of Plates (and Spanish Girls who were in the way)
The Muses
Pius VII's 1804 bedchamber (Napoleon hosted him)
Pope Pius VII, by David
Ann of Austria's Bedchamber
Ceiling
Tapestry: Life of Alexander the Great (Gobelins Manufacturing). Amazingly all these photos are at -2 exposure - the camera I was using has a light fetish
Vases
Carved Door
Vestibule of the Chapel
Gallery of Francis I. The paintings along the side bear witness to his attempts to turn Fontainebleau into an art hub. The salamander was his sumbol so you can see it everywhere
Carp Pond
Elephant with Salamander. There is a lot of other symbolism in here, including the 3 realms that Francis I ruled over. The sky, the sea and probably the earth; the audioguide was rather fast.
Nymph of Fontainebleau
Salamanders on wall of gallery
Guard Room
Guard Room Ceiling; the roof and the freize are the only original decor of this room
Nudes in King's Staircase
Ballroom. The King of Siam was welcomed here.
Gardens from Ballroom
"A monumental fireplace supported by two bronze satyrs, reproduced in 1966 (the originals were melted down during the Revolution)" - Frommer's France 2011
Cour Henri IV (Henry IV Courtyard)
Chapel of St Saturnin - Dome
Chapel of St Saturnin
Door panel
I was being nagged and an attempt was made to lure me out with the promise of cold drinks and a dessert (I declined, finding Art and Palatial Majesty more nourishing to my spirit), so I asked the attendants how many rooms were left. One said there were 30, but said they were all the same and one could walk through them in 10 minutes (except for the Galerie de Diane).
"The Catching of the Fox, Hunt in Scotland"
There was a Salon of Louis XIII - Henry IV (?) had redecorated it in honour of his son - the first not born in public (this was meant to prove legitimacy, but given male paternity uncertainty, I'm not sure what help it was)
The Story of Psyche in the Salon of Tapestries
The Gallery of Diane. Unfortunately one could not enter (I was standing on the steps leading to it)
Empress's Bedchamber. Empress Eugénie used this room. This has something to do with Marie of the Medici
This room had no description but it was next door to the one above and had a tub, so it was probably the Queen's bathroom. Charming.
[Napoleon's] Throne Room - the only one in France with its original furniture
The roof of Napoleon's study had an allegory of the return of the Bourbons to France. Hah.
Trinity Chapel
Altar: Henry IV and Louis XIII represented as Charlemagne and St Louis (very humble)
Back of vault: the Redemption of Man
Altar used for burning incense from Hankou in China. This was very incongruous.
