LE BRUN, Charles
(b. 1619, Paris, d. 1690, Paris)

Interior view

1679-81
Photo
Château, Versailles

It was in the interior of the château of Versailles that Louis XIV had to appear on the most important ceremonial occasions, it was here that he received the ambassadors of foreign powers, and it was here that the full complexity of court life was displayed. The interior decoration was oversaw by Charles Le Brun.

The seven rooms of the King's Appartement were named after the seven planets, culminating in the Salon d'Apollon, which was the Throne Room. In each Salon the particular attributes of the planet in question were set forth in fables or allegories alluding to the great kings of the past.

Designed as the sovereign's Ceremonial Room, the Apollo Room was used as a throne room from 1682 onwards. The ceiling was dedicated to the Sun King, the arts and peace. The symbol of the sun, adopted early on by Louis XIV, is illustrated through the image of Apollo on his chariot surrounded by allegorical figures. The arches illustrate the king's magnificence and magnanimity though various examples from Antiquity.

The photo shows the Salon d'Apollon.




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