Chapels of Versailles

Versailles' chapel is one of the palace's grandest interiors. This is the view as seen from the tribune royale, where the king and members of the royal family heard mass.

The present chapel of the Palace of Versailles is the fifth in the history of the palace. These chapels evolved with the expansion of the château and formed the focal point of the daily life of the court during the Ancien Régime (Bluche, 1986, 1991; Petitfils, 1995; Solnon, 1987).

History of the chapels

First chapel

The château's first chapel dated from the time of Louis XIII, and was located in a detached pavilion at the northeast of the château.^[1] This chapel followed the two-story palatine model, which was traditional in France; successive chapels at Versailles followed this model. This chapel was destroyed in 1665 during the construction of the Grotte de Thétys (Batifol, 1909, 1913; Kimball, 1944; Le Guillou, 1983, 1989; Marie, 1968; Verlet, 1985).

Second Chapel

The château's second chapel was created during Louis XIV’s second building campaign (1669–1672), when Louis Le Vau constructed the château neuf. When the new part of the château was completed, the chapel was situated in the grand apartment de la reine and formed the symmetrical pendant with the salon de Diane in the grand appartement du roi. This chapel was used by the royal family and court until 1678 at which time a new chapel was constructed, and this one was converted into the salle des gardes de la reine (Félibien, 1674; Kimball, 1944; Le Guillou, 1983, 1989; Marie, 1972, 1976; Scudéry, 1669; Verlet, 1985).

Third Chapel

Located next to the new salle des gardes de la reine, this chapel served the needs of life at Versailles for a short period of time. Soon after its construction, Louis XIV found it inconvenient and impractical for his needs as well as those of his court, which he had officially installed at Versailles in 1682. In 1682, this room was converted into the grande salles des gardes de la reine (and now exists as la salle du sacre) and a new chapel was built (Combes, 1681; Kimball, 1944; Le Guillou, 1983, 1989; Marie, 1972, 1976; Verlet, 1985).

Fourth Chapel

With the construction of the aile du Nord, the north wing of the château, a new chapel was built. Construction of the north wing necessitated the destruction of the Grotte de Thétys; it was on this site that the new chapel was built in 1682. When the fourth chapel was constructed, the salon de l’Abondance, which had served as entry to the cabinet des médailles in the petit appartement du roi, was transformed into the vestibule de la chapelle — so named as it was from this upper level of the chapel that king and selected members of the royal family heard daily mass. 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 the salon d’Hercule and 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

The exterior 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 the château of Versailles is an unreserved masterpiece. Begun in 1689, construction was halted due to the War of the League of Augsburg; Jules Hardouin-Mansart resumed 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 in fact the height of its vaulting alone was allowed to disturb the rather severe horizontality everywhere else apparent in the palace's roof-line, leading to the design being badly treated by some contemporaries at the time, most notably perhaps by the duc de Saint-Simon, who characterized it as an "enormous catafalque".^[2] Nevertheless, the magnificent interior has been widely admired to the present day and served as inspiration for Luigi Vanvitelli when he designed the chapel for the Palace of Caserta (Defilippis, 1968).

Dedicated to Saint Louis, patron saint of the Bourbons, the chapel was consecrated in 1710. The palatine model is of course traditional; however, the Corinthian colonnade of the tribune level is of a classic style that anticipates the neo-classicism that evolved during the 18th century, although its use here bespeaks a remarkable virtuosity. The tribune level is accessed by a vestibule, known as the salon de la chapelle, that was constructed at the same time as the chapel. The salon de la chapelle is decorated with white stone and the bas-relief sculpture, Louis XIV Crossing the Rhine by Nicolas and Guillaume Coustou forms the focal point of the rooms décor^[3] (Nolhac, 1912–1913; Verlet, 1985; Walton, 1993).

The floor of the chapel itself is inlaid with polychromatic marbles, and at the foot of the steps leading to the altar is the crowned monogram of an interlaced double "L" alluding to Saint Louis and Louis XIV (Nolhac, 1912–1913; Verlet, 1985; Walton, 1993). The sculptural and painted decoration uses both Old Testament and New Testament themes (Lighthart, 1997; Nolhac, 1912–1913; Sabatier, 1999; Verlet, 1985; Walton, 1993). The ceiling of the nave represent God the Father in His Glory Bringing to the World the Promise of Redemption and was painted by Antoine Coypel; the half-dome of the apse is decorated with Charles de la Fosse’s The Resurrection of Christ; and, above the royal tribune is Jean Jouvenet’s The Descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Virgin and the Apostles (Nolhac, 1912–1913; Walton, 1993).

Engraving of the wedding ceremony of Marie Antoinette and the future Louis XVI, who were married in the chapel on May 16, 1770.

Altar of the chapel of Versailles; the very spot where Marie Antoinette married Louis XVI.

During the 18th century, the chapel witnessed many court events. Te Deums were sung to celebrate military victories and the births of children (Fils de France and fille de France) born to the king and queen; marriages were also celebrated in this chapel, such as the wedding of Louis XV's son the dauphin Louis with the Infanta Marie-Thérèse d'Espagne of Spain on 23 February 1745 and the wedding on 16 May 1770 of the dauphin – later Louis XVI of France – with Marie-Antoinette. However, of all the ceremonies held in the chapel, those associated the Order of the Holy Spirit were among the most elaborate.^[4] (Blondel, 1752–1756; Bluche, 2000; Boughton, 1986; Campan, 1823; Croÿ-Solre, 1906–1921; Hézuques, 1873; Luynes, 1860–1865; Nolhac, 1912–1913).

The chapel was de-consecrated in the 19th century and has since served as a venue for state and private events. Musical concerts are often held in the chapel of Versailles.^[5]

Notes

1. ^ Today, the pièce de la vaisselle d'or in the petit appartement du roi occupies the approximate emplacement of the château's first chapel.
2. ^ Cette belle chapelle de Versailles, si mal proportionnée, qui semble un enfeu par le haut et vouloir écraser le château (Saint-Simon p. 244)
3. ^ This bas relief was originally intended to decorate the salon de la Guerre.
4. ^ The 1st of January was the feast day of the order and promotions into the order were held on this day in the chapel of Versailles
5. ^ Source: Official site of the Château de Versailles

Sources

Books Amiel, Olivier (1985). Lettres de Madame duchesse d'Orléans née Princesse Palatine. Paris: Mercure de France.  Archives nationales (1983). Versailles: dessins d'architecture de la Direction général des bâtiments du roi. Danielle Gallet-Guerne, ed. Paris: Archives nationales.  Berger, Robert W (1986). Versailles: The Chateau of Louis XIV. University Park: The College Arts Association.  Blondel, Jacques-François (1752-1756). Architecture françoise, ou Recueil des plans, élévations, coupes et profils des églises, maisons royales, palais, hôtels & édifices les plus considérables de Paris. Volume 4. Paris: Charles-Antoine Jombert.  Bluche, François (1986). Louis XIV. Paris: Arthème Fayard.  Bluche, François (1991). Dictionnaire du Grand Siècle. Paris: Arthème Fayard.  Bluche, François (2000). Louis XV. Paris: Perrin.  Boughton, Bradford B (1986). Dictionary of Medieval Knighthood and Chivalry: Concepts and Terms. New York: Greenwood Press.  Campan, Madame (1823). Mémoires sur la vie privée de Marie-Antoinette. 3 vol. Paris: Baudouin frères.  Combes, sieur de (1681). Explication historique de ce qu'il y a de plus remarquable dans la maison royale de Versailles. Paris: C. Nego.  Cosnac, Gabriel-Jules, comte de (1882). Mémoires du marquis de Sourches sur le règne de Louis XIV. vol. 3. Paris: Librairie Hachette et Cie.  Croÿ-Solre, Emmanuel de (1906-19-21). Journal inédit du duc de Croÿ. eds. Emmanuel-Henri de Grouchy and Paul Cottin. 4 volumes. Paris: E. Flammarion.  Dangeau, marquis de (1854). Journal avec les additions inedites du duc de Saint-Simon. vol. 3. (1689-1692). Paris: Firmin Didot Freres.  Decaux, Alain (1970). Les grands heures de Versailles. Paris: Librairie Académique Perrin.  Defilippis, Felice (1968). Il palazzo reale di Caserta e i Borboni di Napoli. Cava dei Tirreni-Napoli: Di Mauro.  Félibien, André (1674). Description sommaire du chasteau de Versailles. Paris: Guillaume Desprez.  Félibien, Jean-François (1703). Description sommaire de Versailles ancienne et nouvelle. Paris: A. Chrétien.  Guiffery, Jules and P. Marce (1927). Inventaire général des dessins du musée du Louvre et du musée de Versailles. Paris.  Guiffrey, Jules (1880-1890). Comptes des bâtiments du roi sous le règne de Louis XIV. 5 volumes. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.  Hézecques, Félix, comte de France d' (1873). Souveniers d'un page à la cour de Louis XVI. Paris: Didier et Cie..  Lighthart, Edward (1987). Archétype et symbole dans le style Louis XIV versaillais: réflexions sur l’imago rex et l’imago patriae au début de l’époque moderne. Doctoral thesis.  Luynes, Charles-Philippe d'Albert, duc de (1860-1865). Mémoires sur la cour de Louis XV (1735-1758). 17 volumes. Paris : Firmin-Didot frères.  Marie, Alfred (1968). Naissance de Versailles. Paris: Edition Vincent, Freal & Cie.  Marie, Alfred and Jeanne (1972). Mansart à Versailles. Paris: Editions Jacques Freal.  Marie, Alfred and Jeanne (1976). Versailles au temps de Louis XIV. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.  Marie, Alfred and Jeanne (1984). Versailles au temps de Louis XV. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale.  Mauricheau-Beaupré, Charles (1949). Versailles. Paris: Draeger et Veive.  Monicart, Jean-Baptiste de (1720). Versailles immortalisé. Paris: E. Ganeau.  Nolhac, Pierre de (1912-19-13). La Chapelle royale de Versailles. Versailles et Paris: Éditions artistiques et scientifiques.  Nolhac, Pierre de (1901). La création de Versailles. Versailles: L. Bernard.  Nolhac, Pierre de (1911-19-18). Histoire de Versailles. 3 volumes. Paris: André Marty.  Nolhac, Pierre de (1925). Versailles, résidence de Louis XIV. Paris: Louis Conard.  Nolhac, Pierre de (1926). Versailles au XVIIIe siècle. Paris: Louis Conard.  Nolhac, Pierre de (1929). Versailles. Paris: A. Morancé.  Petitfils, Jean-Christian (1995). Louis XIV. Paris: Perrin.  Petitfils, Jean-Christian (2005). Louis XVI. Paris: Perrin.  Piganiol de la Force, Jean-Aymar (1701). Nouvelle description des châteaux et parcs de Versailles et Marly. Paris: Chez Florentin de la lune.  Sabatier, Gérard (1999). Versailles, ou la figure du roi. Paris: Albin Michel.  Saint-Simon, Louis de Rouvroy, duc de (1856-1858). Mémoires complets et authentiques du duc de Saint-Simon sur le siècle de Louis XIV et la Régence. Eds. Adolphe Chéruel and Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve. Volume 6. Paris: Hachette.  Scudérey, Madeleine de (1669). La Promenade de Versailles. Paris: Chez Claude Barbin.  Sevigné, Marie de Rabutin Chantal, Madame de (1976). Letters de Madame de Sevigné. Paris: Flammarion.  Solnon, Jean-François (1987). La cour de France. Paris: Fayard.  Verlet, Pierre (1985). Le château de Versailles. Paris: Librairie Arthème Fayard.

Journals Batiffol, Louis (April 1909). "Origine du château de Versailles". La Revue de Paris: 841–869  Batiffol, Louis (November 1913). "Le château de Versailles de Louis XIII et son architecte Philbert le Roy". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 4 pér., vol. 10: 341–371  Berger, Robert W (1985). "Les guides imprimés de Versailles sous Louis XIV et le oeuvres d'art allégoriques". Colloque de Versailles  Berger, Robert W (1980). "The chronology of the Enveloppe of Versailles". Architectura 10: 105–133  Bottineau, Yves (October 1988). "Essais sur le Versailles de Louis XIV II: le style et l'iconographie". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 6 per., vol. 112: 119–132  Bottineau, Yves (September 1988). "Essais sur le Versailles de Louis XIV I: La distribution du château Versailles, le plan du domaine et de la ville". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 6 per., vol. 112: 77–89  Deshairs. L (1905/06). "Documents inedits sur la chapelle du château de Versailles". Revue de l'Histoire de Versailles: 241–262, 61–85  Dubu, Jean (April - June 1989). "Racine et l'iconographie de Versailles". Dix-septième Siècle 163(2): 195–204  Dufourcq, Norbert (April 1934). "L'orgue de la chapelle de Versailles". La revue musicale no. 145: 283–297  Fromageot, P (1903). "Le château de Versailles en 1795 d'après le journal de Huges Lagarde". Revue de l'Histoire de Versailles: 224–240  Himelfarb, Hélène. "Versailles, fonctions et legendes". Les Lieux de Mémoire: La Nation II: 235–292  Johnson, Kevin Orlin (January 1981). "Il n'y a plus de Pyrenées: the Iconography of the first Versailles of Louis XIV". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 6 pér., vol. 97: 29–40  Josephson, Ragnar (1926). "Relation de la visite de Nicodème Tessin à Marly, Versailles, Rueil, et St-Cloud en 1687". Revue de l'Histoire de Versailles: 150–67, 274–300  Kimball, Fiske (1944). "The chapels of the Château de Versailles". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 6 pér., vol. 26: 315–332  Kimball, Fiske (1949). "Genesis of the Château Neuf at Versailles, 1668-1671". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 6 pér., vol. 35: 353–372  Le Guillou, Jean-Claude (December 1983). "Le château-neuf ou enveloppe de Versailles: concept et evolution du premier projet". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 6 pér., vol. 102: 193–207  Le Guillou, Jean-Claude (February 1989). "Aperçu sur un projet insolit (1668) pour le château de Versailles". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 6 pér., vol. 113: 79–104  Le Guillou, Jean-Claude (February 1976). "Remarques sur le corps central du château de Versailles à partir du château de Louis XIII.". Gazette des Beaux-Arts. 6 pér., vol. 87: 49–60  Mâle, Émile (1927). "Le clef des allegories peintes et sculptées de Versailles". Revue de l'Histoire de Versailles: 73–82  Nolhac, Pierre de (1899). "La construction de Versailles de Le Vau". Revue de l'Histoire de Versailles: 161–171  Pommier, Edouard. "Versailles, l'image du souverain". Les Lieux de Mémoire: La Nation II: 193–234  Pradel, Paul (1937). "Le symbolisme de la chapelle de Versailles". Bulletin Monumental 96: 335–355  Stevlingson, Norma (1985). "Les organistes, leur musique, et les orgues de la chapelle royal de Versailles sous le règne de Louis XIV". Colloque de Versailles  Verlet, Pierre (1968). "Les tapis de la chapelle de Versailles au XVIIIe siècle". Revue de l'Art 1-2: 65–71  Walton, Guy (May 1993). "The Chapelle Royale". Eighteenth Century Life 17, n.s., 2: 86–94

Coordinates: 48°48′18″N 2°7′20″E / 48.805°N 2.12222°E / 48.805; 2.12222