Louvre musée, The Napoleon III apartments
The Napoleon III apartments
- The Napoleon III so called apartments are the work of the architect Lefuel.
- They were decorated and furnished during the Second Empire, at the time of Napoleon III in the XIX century.
- They were named in honour of Napoleon III who ordained the construction of this wing of the palace (aile Richelieu).
- They were created as reception rooms for the Ministry of State, which was an important government department.
- The offices and the cabinet room were installed on the ground floor and the private apartments were located on the first floor.
- Later the apartments were occupied by different ministries, the last one being the Ministry of Finance, which remained here until 1989. Finally in 1993 the apartments were opened to the public.
- These apartments are an exceptional example of the Second-Empire decorative arts.
- The apartments have kept the original furniture creating a unique ensemble.
- The whole effect is typically of the Second Empire:
- It is an eclectic style. There is a reference to the past, the sources of inspiration date from the time of Louis XIV and Louis XV.
- There is a search of comfort.
The arm chairs, large round sofas, confidante sofas, s-shaped armchairs, lend an air of comfort.
The apartments were heated by a hot water system (calorifére)
- There is a general element of luxury.
Rich materials have been used such crimson velvet.
There is also an abundance of lighting (gaz): chandeliers, bracket lamps, and candelabras to give brilliance to the reception rooms.
MATERIALS
There is Blackened wood (ebonised wood) with bronze gilt decorations in imitation of Boulle marquetry.
Exuberant Stucco work (imitation of marble)
Materials such as carton pierre
WALL DECORATION
The decorative paintings
THE MINISTER’S STAIRCASE
This was the ceremonial staircase for the private apartments of the Minister of State.
THE ANTECHAMBER
The walls are covered with wood panelling. On the ceiling there is a walnut panelling.
The ceiling is done in natural colours and depicts the allegory of “The Arts”.
The bureau and the chairs are in Louis XIV style.
THE GALLERY
The gallery is adorned with 2 landscapes by Charles François Daubigny.
Notice that the carpet has the same design as the ceiling.
THE FAMILY DRAWING-ROOM
This room marks the transition between the public and the private apartments.
The walls are hung with paintings.
The walls are tapestries in crimson silk.
The decoration is made in carton-pierre.
The blue (monochromatic) camaieu paintings on the ceiling
Wall mirror, mantel clock.
THE GRAND CORNER SALON
It is the biggest and most luxurious room. Luxury and comfort.
It could be transformed in to a theatre to hold eleven rows of spectators all facing the stage in the theatre saloon.
The elaborated decorative drapery is held up by cherubs.
The room is richly decorated with imperial insignias, vases, trophies, allegories of art, caryatides (columns in the shape of female figures)
The chairs and armchairs are upholstered in crimson velvet.
There are paintings on the four sides of the vault, which show the different stages of the construction of the palace during the reigns of Francis I, Catherine de Medici, Henry IV and Louis XIV.
The painting on the ceiling shows Napoleon III linking (connecting) the Louvre to the Tuilleries.
Exuberant stucco work (imitating marble)
THE THEATRE SALOON
It has a floral and musical décor.
THE SMALL DINING ROOM
The small and large dinning room could be combined in to one for large receptions.
The decoration of the small dining room is simple with austere tonalities of sea-green marble and blackened wood (ebonized wood) inlaid with bronze gilt fillet.
The niche is decorated with trompe l’oeil painting.
THE LARGE DINING ROOM
The dining room was used only for banquets.
The room is very luxurious.
The walls were covered with panelling in the Boulle style, wallpaper.
The paintings depict scenes of hunting.
The buffet, chairs, console tables are all made of ebonized wood.
Blackened wood with gilt bronze decorations.
The ceiling depicts a luminous sky with exotics birds.
A corridor leads alongside the dinning room to the kitchen.
A service staircase, for the staff, leads to the room where the silver was kept.
The chairs and armchairs are upholstered in crimson velvet.
There is a set of chairs.
This is a vase stand.
Trimmings
Beautiful material
stool
Marquetry: the art of applying decorative veneers to solid wood furniture.
A cabinet marker
Tapestry:
A tapestry marker
Upholstery:
A set of chairs
A vase stand
A porcelain set
A dining set
A wall mirror