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Chapels of Versailles

Coordinates:48°48′18″N2°7′20″E/ 48.80500°N 2.12222°E/48.80500; 2.12222
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Versailles' chapel is one of the palace's grandest interiors. This is the view as seen from thetribune royale,where the king and members of the royal family heard daily Mass.

The present chapel of thePalace of Versaillesis the fifth in the history of the palace. Thesechapelsevolved with the expansion of thechâteauand formed the focal point of the daily life of the court during theAncien Régime(Bluche, 1986, 1991; Petitfils, 1995; Solnon, 1987).

History of the chapels

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Plan of the main floor (c. 1837,with north to the right), showing theRoyal Chapelin yellow, theHall of Mirrorsin red, theHall of Battlesin green, and theRoyal Operain blue.

First chapel

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Thechâteau's first chapel dated from the time ofLouis XIII,and was located in a detached pavilion at the northeast of thechâteau.Today, thepièce de la vaisselle d'orin thePetit appartement du roioccupies the approximate site of this first chapel.

It followed the two-story palatine model, which was traditional in France; successive chapels atVersaillesalso followed this model. This chapel was demolished in 1665 during construction of theGrotte de Thétys(Batifol, 1909, 1913; Kimball, 1944; Le Guillou, 1983, 1989; Marie, 1968; Verlet, 1985).

Second chapel

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The second chapel was constructed as part of Louis XIV's second building campaign (1669–1672), whenLouis Le Vauconstructed theChâteau Neuf.When the new part of thechâteauwas completed, the chapel was situated in theGrand appartement de la reineand formed the symmetrical pendant with theSalon de Dianein theGrand appartement du roi.This chapel was used by the royal family and court until 1678, when time a new chapel was built, and the structure converted into theSalle des Gardes de la Reine(Félibien, 1674; Kimball, 1944; Le Guillou, 1983, 1989; Marie, 1972, 1976; Scudéry, 1669; Verlet, 1985).

Third chapel

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Louis XIV in prayer in the chapel of 1682 (miniature in theHeures de Louis le Grand,1693,Bibliothèque nationale de France,ms. 9477,folio a verso)[1]

Located next to the newSalle des Gardes de la Reine,this chapel served Versailles for a short period. Soon after its construction,Louis XIVfound it inconvenient and impractical for his needs as well as those of his court, which he had officially installed at Versailles in 1682. That same year, this room was converted into theGrande Salles des Gardes de la Reine(and now exists asla Salle du Sacre) and a new chapel was built (Combes, 1681; Kimball, 1944; Le Guillou, 1983, 1989; Marie, 1972, 1976; Verlet, 1985).

Fourth chapel

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With the construction of theAile du Nord,the north wing of thechâteau,a new chapel was built. This project necessitated the destruction of theGrotte de Thétys;[2][circular reference]it was on this site that the new chapel was built in 1682. When the fourth chapel was constructed, theSalon de l'Abondance,which had served as the entry to theCabinet des Médaillesin thePetit appartement du roi,was transformed into theVestibule de la Chapelle— so named as it was from this upper level of the chapel that the king and select members of the royal family heard dailyMass.This chapel remained in use until 1710, and was witness to many of the important events of the court and royal family during the reign of Louis XIV. Today, theSalon d'Herculeand the lower vestibule occupy the space of this site (Félibien, 1703; Kimball, 1944; Le Guillou, 1983, 1989; Marie, 1972, 1976; Piganiole de la Force, 1701; Verlet, 1985).

Fifth chapel

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Aerial view of Louis XIV's Baroque chapel at Versailles

As the focal point of Louis XIV's fourth (and last) building campaign (1699–1710), the fifth and final chapel of thechâteauof Versailles is an unreserved masterpiece. Begun in 1689, construction was halted due to theWar of the League of Augsburg;Jules Hardouin-Mansartresumed construction in 1699. Hardouin-Mansart continued working on the project until his death in 1708, at which time his brother-in-law,Robert de Cotte,finished the project (Blondel, 1752–1756; Marie, 1972, 1976; Nolhac, 1912–1913; Verlet, 1985; Walton, 1993). It was to become the largest of the royal chapels at Versailles, and the height of its vaulting alone was allowed to disturb the rather severe horizontality everywhere else apparent in the palace'sroofline,leading to the design being disparaged by some contemporaries; theduc de Saint-Simoncharacterized it as an "enormouscatafalque".[3]Nevertheless, the magnificent interior has been widely admired to the present day and served as inspiration forLuigi Vanvitelliwhen he designed the chapel for thePalace of Caserta(Defilippis, 1968).

Dedicated toSaint Louis,patron saint of theBourbons,the chapel was consecrated in 1710. The palatine model is of course traditional; however, theCorinthiancolonnade of the tribune level is of a classic style that anticipates theneo-classicismthat evolved during the 18th century, although its use here bespeaks a remarkable virtuosity. The tribune level is accessed by a vestibule, known as theSalon de la Chapelle,that was built at the same time as the chapel. TheSalon de la Chapelleis decorated with white stone and thebas-reliefsculpture,Louis XIV Crossing the RhinebyNicolasandGuillaume Coustouforms the focal point of the rooms décor[4](Nolhac, 1912–1913; Verlet, 1985; Walton, 1993).

Altar of the chapel of Versailles

The floor of the chapel itself is inlaid with polychromatic marble, and at the steps at the foot of thealtaris the crowned monogram of an interlaced double "L", alluding toSaint Louisand Louis XIV (Nolhac, 1912–1913; Verlet, 1985; Walton, 1993). The sculptural and painted decoration shows bothOld TestamentandNew Testamentthemes (Lighthart, 1997; Nolhac, 1912–1913; Sabatier, 1999; Verlet, 1985; Walton, 1993). The ceiling of thenaverepresentsGod the Father in His Glory Bringing to the World the Promise of Redemptionand was painted byAntoine Coypel;theexedraof theapseis decorated withCharles de la Fosse'sThe Resurrection of Christ;and, above the royal tribune isJean Jouvenet'sThe Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Virgin and the Apostles(Nolhac, 1912–1913; Walton, 1993).

Engraving of the wedding ceremony ofMarie Antoinetteand the futureLouis XVI,who were married in the chapel on May 16, 1770.

During the 18th century, the chapel witnessed many court events.Te Deumswere sung to celebrate military victories and the births of children (Fils de Franceandfille de France) to the king and queen; marriages were also celebrated in this chapel, such as the wedding of Louis XV's son thedauphinLouiswith theInfantaMarie-Thérèse d'Espagneof Spain on 23 February 1745 and the wedding on 16 May 1770 of the dauphin – laterLouis XVI of France– withMarie-Antoinette.However, of all the ceremonies held in the chapel, those associated theOrder of the Holy Spiritwere among the most elaborate.[5](Blondel, 1752–1756; Bluche, 2000; Boughton, 1986; Campan, 1823; Croÿ-Solre, 1906–1921; Hézuques, 1873; Luynes, 1860–1865; Nolhac, 1912–1913).

The chapel wasde-consecratedin the 19th century and has since served as a venue for state and private events. Musical concerts are often held in this present chapel of Versailles.[6]

Organ

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The organ of the royal chapel of Versailles

The organ of the fifth chapel of Versailles was built byRobert ClicquotandJulien Tribuotin 1709–1710.[7]His first official presentation took place onPentecost,Juin 8, 1710; the organist wasJean-Baptiste Buterne.[8][9][10]

Marriages

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Discography
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  1. the Du Roy-Soleil à la Révolution, l'orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles / From the Sun King to the Revolution, the organ of the Royal Chapel of Versailles.Marina Tchebourkinaat the Great Organ of the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles. — 2004. (EAN 13: 3760075340032)
  2. Louis Claude Daquin, l'œuvre intégrale pour orgue /Louis Claude Daquin,Complete organ works.Marina Tchebourkina at the Great Organ of the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles. — 2004. (EAN 13: 3760075340049)
  3. Louis Marchand, l'œuvre intégrale pour orgue /Louis Marchand,Complete organ works.Marina Tchebourkina at the Great Organ of the Royal Chapel of the Palace of Versailles. 2-CD set. — 2005. (EAN 13: 3760075340056)
  4. François Couperin, l'œuvre intégrale pour orgue /François Couperin,Complete organ works.Marina Tchebourkina at the Great Organ of the Royal Chapel at the Palace of Versailles. 2-CD set. — 2005. (EAN 13: 3760075340063)
Bibliography
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  1. M. Tchebourkina.L'Orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles, Trois siècles d'histoire(The Organ of the Royal Chapel of Versailles, Three centuries of history). — Paris: Natives, 2010. — 256 p. (ISBN978-2-911662-09-6).
  2. Чебуркина М. Н. Французское органное искусство Барокко: Музыка, Органостроение, Исполнительство (French Baroque Organ Art: Musique, Organ building, Performance). — Paris: Natives, 2013. — 848 с. (ISBN978-2-911662-10-2).
  3. M. Tchebourkina.The Organ of the Royal Chapel: from the Sun King to… well after the Revolution// Livret CD – Du Roy-Soleil à la Révolution, l'orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles. — Paris: Natives / CDNAT03, 2004. — P. 39–48. (EAN 13: 3760075340032).
  4. M. Tchebourkina.Nouveaux regards sur Le Marché ancien: Ce qui fut fait, fut-il fourni?(The new views on The Ancient Deal: What was done, was it provided?) // Livret CD – Du Roy-Soleil à la Révolution, l'orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles. — Paris: Natives / CDNAT03, 2004. — P. 51–54 (EAN 13: 3760075340032).
  5. M. Tchebourkina.Nouveaux regards sur Le Marché ancien: Le jeu des nouveaux jeux(The new views on The Ancient Deal: Play of new Stops) // Livret CD – Louis Claude Daquin, l'œuvre intégrale pour orgue. — Paris: Natives / CDNAT04, 2004. — P. 47–50 (EAN 13: 3760075340049).
  6. M. Tchebourkina.L'orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles: À la recherche d'une composition perdue(The Organ of the Royal Chapel of Versailles: In search of a lost Organ Disposition) // L'Orgue. — Lyon, 2007. 2007–IV No. 280. — P. 3–112 (ISSN0030-5170).
  7. M. Tchebourkina.Tricentenaire de l'orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles (1710–2010): De la première mise en service de l'orgue(Tricentary of the Organ of the Royal Chapel of Versailles (1710–2010): About the first official putting into service of the organ ) // L'Orgue. — Lyon, 2009. 2009–III–IV No. 287–288. — P. 258–260 (ISSN0030-5170).
  8. M. Tchebourkina.L'orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles (1710–2010): Les progrès de la connaissance ou l'art difficile de l'humilité(The Organ of the Royal Chapel of Versailles (1710–2010): Advances in knowledges, or Difficult art of humility) // L'Orgue. — Lyon, 2010. 2010–III No. 291. — P. 35–69 (ISSN0030-5170).
  9. M. Tchebourkina.Tricentenaire de l'orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles (1710–2010)(Tricentary of the Organ of the Royal Chapel of Versailles (1710–2010)) // Versalia. — Versailles, 2011. No. 14. — P. 143–175 (ISSN1285-8412).

Notes

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  1. ^Edmunds 2002, color plate 10, before p. 65.
  2. ^Grotto of Thetys in French Wikipedia
  3. ^Cette belle chapelle de Versailles, si mal proportionnée, qui semble un enfeu par le haut et vouloir écraser le château(Saint-Simon p. 244)
  4. ^This bas relief was originally intended to decorate theSalon de la Guerre.
  5. ^1 January was the feast day of the order and promotions into the order were held on this day in the chapel of Versailles
  6. ^Source: Official site of the Château de VersaillesArchived2008-07-23 at theWayback Machine
  7. ^M. Tchebourkina.L'Orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles, Trois siècles d'histoire.— Paris: Natives, 2010. — P. 104.
  8. ^M. Tchebourkina.Tricentenaire de l'orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles (1710–2010): De la première mise en service de l'orgue// L'Orgue. — Lyon, 2009. 2009–III–IV № 287–288. — P. 258–260.
  9. ^M. Tchebourkina.L'Orgue de la Chapelle royale de Versailles, Trois siècles d'histoire.— Paris: Natives, 2010. — P. 175–178.
  10. ^Чебуркина М. Н. Французское органное искусство Барокко: Музыка, Органостроение, Исполнительство (French Baroque Organ Art: Musique, Organ building, Performance). — Paris: Natives, 2013. — P. 491–492.

Sources

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toChapel of the Palace of Versailles.

48°48′18″N2°7′20″E/ 48.80500°N 2.12222°E/48.80500; 2.12222

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