Palace of Versailles

I. Connaissance ("Knowledge") 

- Located in Versailles, France
-The main architect was Louis Le Vau; Charles Le Brun was the painter and decorator, and
Andre Le Notre as the landscape architect
-Construction began in 1682 when King Louis the XIV moved the French government to
Versaille, and it lasted for nearly a century intended for royal residents.
There were two major expansions of the mansion, 1661–78 and 1678–1715 (Hall of Mirrors)
respectively.

II. Importance of the Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles was built for Louis the XIV and his family. With overwhelming wealth, the royal mansion could accommodate up to 5,000 people, and about 14,000 soldiers and servants were quartered in annexes and in the nearby town. In today's money, it is estimated to be about $2 billion USD, making it one of the world's most expensive constructions and the world's largest royal domain.

A. Global influence: Versailles became the “model” for royal residences throughout Europe. For example, after Peter the Great visited Paris during his European “Embassy,” he resolved to build a palace as grand, if not grander, but the attempt was futile compared to the original. In addition, Frederick the Great’s Sans Souci Palace in Potsdam was inspired by Versailles as well.
B. Origin
In 1624, King Louis XIII built a hunting lodge at the village of Versailles outside of Paris. The small structure became the base and eventually, to the grand structure it is today.

III. Technical Drawings

Original First and Ground Floor Technical Drawing 

Floor Plan of just the Gardens of the Palace of Versailles 

IV. Exterior 

View of the Palace of Versailles from the Gardens
The omnipresence of symmetry and order symbolizes the domestication of nature by man.
With the combination of plants, series of sculptures, and underground hydraulic systems, the consolidations
create a perfect example of form and function to convey a setting for festivals and for taking promenades. With such a grand intimidation,  it was no wonder why it is also a clear reflection of royal power. The material was built from white stone and marble to match the aesthetic color scheme of gold and white for royalty and extravagance. 

Apollo's Fountain
Louis XIV later added the spectacular and famous work in the gilded lead of Apollo riding his chariot. Metaphorically, Apollo was known as the Sun God, and King Louis XIV, the "Sun King", often boasted, "L'Etat c'est moi" or "I am the state." Such lavish expenses emphasize absolutism and the king's divine right to power. 

V. Library Sources

                      In Palaces of the Sun King by Trianon and Marley (citation in the bibliography section), this image of the Old Chateau of Versailles was actually a painting by Pierre Patel. His perception of the old palace captures the hectic nature of Versailles. Its small details show how a small party is oblivious to the king's arrival, servants fighting, and galloping ranks trailing past the forecourt. Perhaps this painting was created to show how Versailles is a very active and busy place yet filled with life. 

                                     In the Versailles: the great and hidden splendors of the sun king's palace,  the image shows the chapel inside the Palace of Versailles. It shows that it has no external doors and must be entered by two vestibules. The walls show the scale of the Baroque architecture, which contrasts the white stones and the Corinthian columns with the marble floor and the gold of the altarpiece. 

VI. Sketch of Building

                            

                             In my drawing above, I captured the symmetrical quantities and geometric shapes on both sides of the building. From the windows to the trees, I noticed there was a lot of symmetry and balance. In addition, I noticed that the geometric shape of the trees was similar to the window shape. All this order and structure emphasizes the order and power of the absolutism of King Louis XIV as well. 

VII. Interior

One of 700 rooms in the Chateau de Versailles
When designing the interior, there were two conditions for the collaboration between design and
function. Louis Le Vau said, “They had to work together, and they had to be as bold
and as innovative as possible.”

VIII. Google Earth

                On Google earth, the front of the Palace of Versailles has a clear and direct focus

on the garden and front of the manor. Right behind is an urban context that portrays the rest of Versailles. It makes sense, as King Louis XIV would want to emphasize the power and recognition

of the building. The architecture's geometry conveys the symmetry and iconic experience, so whoever would look at it would remember it. 

IX. Firsthand Experience 

For this question, I interviewed one of my friends, Raza Muhammad, who went to the Palace of Versailles over the summer. From first impressions, he said the first thing he noticed was the gardens because of how orderly it was kept. He felt that he never felt more in awe yet intimidated by the manor's grand proportions. It made him realize how small he was compared to the structure. I explained to him, that this makes sense because during the 17th Century when King Louis XIV was the absolute monarchy, he would want to show his influence on others via the grandness of the building. 

X. Video/ Film

Video of A Day in Versailles

The video link above shows only a brief perception of the rooms and structure of the Palace of Versailles. The first thing I noticed was the color scheme of the building. The excessive gold lace on all the furniture, walls, and doors imply not only is the king living in lavish, but it shows prestige and status. Another thing I noticed was the biblical paintings on the ceilings. The cross-cultural reference alludes to the king calling himself the "Sun King" as one would have to look up at the Sun, and because he believed he had divine absolutism in the monarchy. 

XI. Blog/Website 

Western Civilization Blog

In the blog by Michael Streich, the author mentions how the Palace of Versailles was never able to fully restore the damages of the building after the mob attack that indicated the first step to the French Revolution. I agree with the statement because it makes sense that King Louis XIV's absolutism was not favored by the masses, thus starting a revolution and hate toward the monarchy. Inspired by the American Revolution, the common folk would never trust the authoritarian with absolute power anymore.

XII. Magazine/ Journal 

Britannica Journal 
When André Le Nôtre designed the landscape, I learned that he intentionally created symmetrical fountains with "magically" still water to symbolize the power of humanity—and, specifically, the king—over nature. In addition, I learned that Louis the XIV was also rumored to spend military funds even when the country was not in war, thus explaining how such a magnificent structure was built. Finally, I learned how Versailles was not created merely to serve as a refuge and place of amusement: its innovative organization of space was also meant to be symbolic of the new order of the state. The park's arrangement and its iconographic themes interpret the symbolic meaning of royal order in the world. 

XIII. Book/Magazine/website about the Architect 

Louis Le Vau

In the website about the main architect of the Palace of Versaille above, Louis Le Vau used Italian decoration and design with a Classical aesthetic and a hint of Baroque, which were characteristic of the mid-17th century. Characteristics of Baroque style architecture include complex architectural plan shapes, often based on the oval, and the dynamic opposition and interpenetration of spaces that favored to heighten the feeling of motion and sensuality. Because of the extravagant and excessive nature of Baroque style, Le Vau knew he had to emphasized the grandeur, drama, and contrast of the building to evoke emotion to the individual to leave an impression, which was proven true when other European nations came. Lastly, I learned how Le Vau was a famous architect in the expertise of mansions before he went to work for King Louis XIV. 

Bibliography

Louis Le Vau. Retrieved September 26, 2018, from http://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/louis-vau

Streich, Michael. “Importance of Versailles: The Royal Palace of Louis XIV Served Many Purposes | Suite101.com.” Michael Streich | Suite101.com. 21 June 2009. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. <http://michael-streich.suite101.com/importance-of-versailles-a126713>.

Seven Secrets of the Palace of Versailles. Retrieved from https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/landmarks-monuments/palace-of-versailles-unique-facts-history

Palace of Versailles History. Retrieved September 26, 2018, from https://www.linkparis.com/versailles.htm

PALACE OF VERSAILLES. Retrieved September 26, 2018, from http://castles.org/dokuwiki/castlesoftheworld/france/versailles

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Palace of Versailles.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 6 Dec. 2017, www.britannica.com/topic/Palace-of-Versailles.

Pégard, C., Fouin, C. and Garvie, F. (n.d.). Versailles: the great and hidden splendors of the sun king's palace.

Zega, A., & Dams, B. H. (2002). Palaces of the sun king: Versailles, Trianon, Marly: The châteaux of Louis XIV. London: Laurence King Publishing.