16
The Habsburgs / Palaces,residencies, estates of the Habsburgs
« on: December 21, 2009, 10:07:43 AM »
Yes, you are right, that is the very statue that were posted a few pages before.
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17
The Habsburgs / Palaces,residencies, estates of the Habsburgs
« on: December 20, 2009, 07:51:22 AM »
Please note that the white figure at the end of the enfilade through the rooms of the Empress Elizabeth is an actual life size statue of the Empress Elizabeth. I am surprised no one has posted on it as yet...
18
French Royals / Re: French Royal Palaces (except Versailles)
« on: December 08, 2009, 07:06:43 PM »
I do not think that if the French rebuild the Tuileries it will be Disney-like. I think the French, like the Germans rebuilding the Palace in Berlin, will do an excellent job of it. I think it is quite feasible if they can get the money together. They have very detailed plans of the Tuileries and will be able to rebuild it just about exactly the way it was. It will be a great addition to the Louvre as well as Paris as it has formed a central part of the city and the French history.
19
French Royals / Re: King Louis XV and his family
« on: November 12, 2009, 11:34:37 AM »
Here is the info on the biography:
Marie Leczinska, femme de Louis XV (1703 - 1768).
La Rochefoucauld, Gabriel de
(Montracol, ., France)
Book Description: Monaco : Les Livres merveilleux, collection Les Reines de France, 1943, 263 p. Bibliographie. Biographie de Marie Leszczynska (1703-1768), princesse de Pologne et reine de France de 1725 à sa mort.
Marie Leczinska, femme de Louis XV (1703 - 1768).
La Rochefoucauld, Gabriel de
(Montracol, ., France)
Book Description: Monaco : Les Livres merveilleux, collection Les Reines de France, 1943, 263 p. Bibliographie. Biographie de Marie Leszczynska (1703-1768), princesse de Pologne et reine de France de 1725 à sa mort.
20
Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: Private rooms of the Winter Palace
« on: June 05, 2009, 08:01:06 AM »
The original book on the decorations and furniture for Nicholas and Alexandra's private apartments in the Winter Palace is the following: "Painting on furniture and other decoration in the Rooms of Nicholas II" - Russian State Historical Archive, archive 489, list 2, file 509. Maybe some of our native Russians can take a look at it and see whether it contains something to contribute to this topic?
Also I see two very resourceful persons who wrote the chapter on the Private rooms of Nicholas and Alexandra in a large photo book are Dr. Tatiana Petrova and Dr. Tamara Malinina. I think both of them are affiliated with the State Hermitage Museum. Maybe we can get through them a copy of the plan of the rooms of the Northwest corner as they were when Nicholas and Alexandra and the children occupied it?
Also I see two very resourceful persons who wrote the chapter on the Private rooms of Nicholas and Alexandra in a large photo book are Dr. Tatiana Petrova and Dr. Tamara Malinina. I think both of them are affiliated with the State Hermitage Museum. Maybe we can get through them a copy of the plan of the rooms of the Northwest corner as they were when Nicholas and Alexandra and the children occupied it?
21
The Final Chapter / Re: Tobolsk house
« on: April 21, 2009, 08:18:29 AM »
The plan referred to above is incorrect. Please try and post the other plan in Princess Eugenie's book. You will see that according to the King plan the Mansion has 8 windows on the side. If you look carefully at the photographs of the mansion, you'll see it had at least 12 windows. So bottom line, the plan is not right.
22
French Royals / Re: French Royal Palaces (except Versailles)
« on: April 17, 2009, 11:56:00 AM »
I found the following link to a French discussion forum. There is a treasure trove of information by one of the contributors, a "M. de Castelnau". Could one of our French speaking members please be so kind as to look at it and translate it for us for this forum, PLEASE!!!
http://maria-antonia.justgoo.com/les-autres-lieux-f21/le-palais-des-tuileries-t447-60.htm
http://maria-antonia.justgoo.com/les-autres-lieux-f21/le-palais-des-tuileries-t447-60.htm
23
Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: Private rooms of the Winter Palace
« on: March 25, 2009, 08:32:22 AM »
I have a HUGE book on the Winter Palace in Russian, so unfortunately I cannot translate, but it seems though as if the kitchens were in the basements directly below the living quarters of the members of the Imperial Family. For instance the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (wife of Paul I) had her own kitchen, Alexander I and his wife, their own below their quarters, which were the same rooms occupied respectively by Nicholas I and II and the wives, the Empresses Alexandra Feodorovna. I would think that there were further kitchens that were used for the banquets which did not form part of the private kitchens of the Imperial Family. I'll look again at it tonight and see what I can make out as my Russian is very basic.
24
French Royals / Re: French Royal Palaces (except Versailles)
« on: February 12, 2009, 12:29:09 PM »
The state of the Tuileries Palace was not real good in October 1789 when Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette moved into it.
The only part of the palace that was used from time to time by the Royal Family, was the Queen's apartment on the upper floor. From 1783 onwards, Marie Antoinette used this apartment as a pied-a-terre when she visited Paris for opera etc. and it was too late to drive back to Versailles. The apartment on the upper floor was the officiall Queen's apartment and was last occupied by the wife of Louis XIV, Marie Therese. In 1789, the Queen's apartment was turned over to Madame Royale and the Dauphin. Louis XVI occupied the King's apartment.
Marie Antoinette chose the apartment directly below the Queen's official apartment as her de facto apartment. Initially these rooms were prepared for Dowager Queen Anne, Louis XIV's mother, but her death in 1666 changed the plans and it became known as the Dauphin's apartment. By 1789 it has been occupied by the Comtesse de la Mark for quite a number of years. She was turned out of the rooms and Marie Antoinette moved into this apartment situated on the ground floor. The apartment was the same size as the by now former Queen's apartment upstairs, except that the ceilings were slightly lower in height.
The apartment on the lower floor consisted of a guard room, an anteroom, the billiards/dining room, the salon, the Queen's bedroom, her cabinet de toilette as well as a bathroom with bath and an ingenuous bidet/toilet, which apparently today is still conserved at Versailles. There was an entresol level as well above the cabinet de toilette that was reached by a small staircase that also led to the suite on the upper floor. Behind the diningroom, salon and bedroom towards the staircase, ran a corridor that had no natural light and was only lit by two lanterns 24/7. It was down this corridor that one of the King's staff came one night to try and murder the Queen. Her valet de chambre however took care of the man...
The only part of the palace that was used from time to time by the Royal Family, was the Queen's apartment on the upper floor. From 1783 onwards, Marie Antoinette used this apartment as a pied-a-terre when she visited Paris for opera etc. and it was too late to drive back to Versailles. The apartment on the upper floor was the officiall Queen's apartment and was last occupied by the wife of Louis XIV, Marie Therese. In 1789, the Queen's apartment was turned over to Madame Royale and the Dauphin. Louis XVI occupied the King's apartment.
Marie Antoinette chose the apartment directly below the Queen's official apartment as her de facto apartment. Initially these rooms were prepared for Dowager Queen Anne, Louis XIV's mother, but her death in 1666 changed the plans and it became known as the Dauphin's apartment. By 1789 it has been occupied by the Comtesse de la Mark for quite a number of years. She was turned out of the rooms and Marie Antoinette moved into this apartment situated on the ground floor. The apartment was the same size as the by now former Queen's apartment upstairs, except that the ceilings were slightly lower in height.
The apartment on the lower floor consisted of a guard room, an anteroom, the billiards/dining room, the salon, the Queen's bedroom, her cabinet de toilette as well as a bathroom with bath and an ingenuous bidet/toilet, which apparently today is still conserved at Versailles. There was an entresol level as well above the cabinet de toilette that was reached by a small staircase that also led to the suite on the upper floor. Behind the diningroom, salon and bedroom towards the staircase, ran a corridor that had no natural light and was only lit by two lanterns 24/7. It was down this corridor that one of the King's staff came one night to try and murder the Queen. Her valet de chambre however took care of the man...
25
Palaces in Moscow / Re: The Kremlin - general information
« on: October 18, 2008, 10:10:45 AM »
Does anyone have the plans of the private apartments in the Grand Kremlin Palace? Please share!
26
Palaces in St. Petersburg / Re: Winter Palace
« on: July 09, 2008, 10:24:58 AM »
It comes with english subtitles. I can strongly recommend this film for purchase.
27
French Royals / Re: Marie Antoinette and Axel Fersen
« on: October 25, 2007, 11:32:05 AM »
After the failed escape Marie Antoinette writes to Axel on 7 December 1791:”It is absolutely impossible for you to come here now; it would endanger our safety, and if I say this, you must believe me, as I have an extreme desire to see you”.
Their last meeting took place in the Tuileries Palace on 13 February 1792. “Monday 13, Went to the Queen; took my usual route; afraid of the National Guard; her quarters wonderful. Stayed there. Tuesday 14, saw the King at six in the evening”.
After the Queen’s excecution, the news reaches Axel in Brussels on 20 October 1793. He writes in his Journal: “Though I was prepared for it and expected it since the transfer to the Conciergerie, I was devastated by the reality. I did not have the strength to feel anything. I went out to talk about this misfortune with my friends and Madame de Fitz-James and the Baron de Breteuil, whom I did not find. I wept with them, especially with Madame de Fitz-James… I thought about her constantly, about all the horrible circumstances of her sufferings, of the doubt she might have had about me, my attachment, my interest. That thought tortured me. Then I felt all that I was losing in so many different ways: feeling, interest, existence, everything was joined in her and all lost… I even had moments of distaste for Eleanore. It was not the same feeling, that consideration, that care, that tenderness…”.
On 21 October 1793 he writes in his Journal: “I could only think of my loss. The fact that she was alone in her last moments, without consolation, with no one to talk to, no one to whom she could give her dying wishes, it is horrifying. What monsters from hell! No, without revenge, never will my heart be content.”
He writes to his sister Sophie on the same day: “She for whom I lived, since I have never ceased to love her, she I loved so much, for whom I would have given a thousand lives, is no more. Oh my God! Why overwhelm me thus, what have I done to deserve your wrath? She is no more. My pain is indescribable and I do not know how I can go on living; I do not know how I can bear my suffering. It is extreme and nothing will ever erase it. She will always be present in my memory and to always weep for her; Everything is over for me my dear friend”.
On 24 October 1793: “Her image, her sufferings, her death and my feeling are always present in my head, I can think of nothing else”.
On 26 October 1793: ”Every day I think about it, and every day my sorrow increases. Every day I am even more aware of all that I have lost”.
On 5 November 1793: “Oh, how I blame myself for my wrongs toward her, and how I know now that I loved her. Eleanore will never replace her in my heart. What gentleness, what tenderness, what kindness, what care, what a loving sensitive, tactful heart!”.
A year later he writes: “This day was a memorable and terrible day for me. It is the day I lost the person who loved me most in the world and who truly loved me”.
Their last meeting took place in the Tuileries Palace on 13 February 1792. “Monday 13, Went to the Queen; took my usual route; afraid of the National Guard; her quarters wonderful. Stayed there. Tuesday 14, saw the King at six in the evening”.
After the Queen’s excecution, the news reaches Axel in Brussels on 20 October 1793. He writes in his Journal: “Though I was prepared for it and expected it since the transfer to the Conciergerie, I was devastated by the reality. I did not have the strength to feel anything. I went out to talk about this misfortune with my friends and Madame de Fitz-James and the Baron de Breteuil, whom I did not find. I wept with them, especially with Madame de Fitz-James… I thought about her constantly, about all the horrible circumstances of her sufferings, of the doubt she might have had about me, my attachment, my interest. That thought tortured me. Then I felt all that I was losing in so many different ways: feeling, interest, existence, everything was joined in her and all lost… I even had moments of distaste for Eleanore. It was not the same feeling, that consideration, that care, that tenderness…”.
On 21 October 1793 he writes in his Journal: “I could only think of my loss. The fact that she was alone in her last moments, without consolation, with no one to talk to, no one to whom she could give her dying wishes, it is horrifying. What monsters from hell! No, without revenge, never will my heart be content.”
He writes to his sister Sophie on the same day: “She for whom I lived, since I have never ceased to love her, she I loved so much, for whom I would have given a thousand lives, is no more. Oh my God! Why overwhelm me thus, what have I done to deserve your wrath? She is no more. My pain is indescribable and I do not know how I can go on living; I do not know how I can bear my suffering. It is extreme and nothing will ever erase it. She will always be present in my memory and to always weep for her; Everything is over for me my dear friend”.
On 24 October 1793: “Her image, her sufferings, her death and my feeling are always present in my head, I can think of nothing else”.
On 26 October 1793: ”Every day I think about it, and every day my sorrow increases. Every day I am even more aware of all that I have lost”.
On 5 November 1793: “Oh, how I blame myself for my wrongs toward her, and how I know now that I loved her. Eleanore will never replace her in my heart. What gentleness, what tenderness, what kindness, what care, what a loving sensitive, tactful heart!”.
A year later he writes: “This day was a memorable and terrible day for me. It is the day I lost the person who loved me most in the world and who truly loved me”.
28
French Royals / Re: Marie Antoinette and Axel Fersen
« on: October 25, 2007, 11:31:21 AM »
According to Elisabeth de Feydeau in her book “A scented Palace”(page 67), Marie Antoinette requested her perfumer Fargeon (when she met with him in the gardens at Petit Trianon) to “prepare a toilet water destined for a man who was very elegant but had nothing of the dandy about him, someone as ‘virile as one can possibly be’ “. In June 1791 her perfumer Fargeon was summoned to the Tuileries (De Feydeau page 89). He met with the Queen in her study. At this meeting he recognized besides the Queen’s perfume, another one of his creations in the air, namely “the virile fragrance that she ordered as a gift for the mysterious ‘very elegant man’. He had no doubt been in the room just a few hours ago”.
Also Axel Feren really risked his own life and safety in planning the Flight to Varennes on 20 June 1791, taking care of all the arrangements and he himself acted as the coachman in getting the Royal Family out of Paris on the first part of the escape. Unfortunately he did not continue with then as Fersen requested, as the King saw no reason for him to continue with them further along on the trip.
Axel Fersen’s grandnephew Baron Klickowstrom allowed Fersen’s Journal and correspondence published in 1877 once he had censored parts of it by crossing out the texts completely. He refused access to the originals and said that he destroyed them. However according to Evelyn Lever, they turned up in 1982 and were subsequently acquired by the French National Archives. She inspected them. Lever says on page 165 of the English translation of her book: “There can be no doubt, given where they are placed and in their context, that these were crossed-out love messages. Indeed, one letter has been found that escaped the blue pencil. The words used by Marie Antoinette could not have been clearer in expressing her feelings for Fersen: ‘I can tell you that I love you’ she said to him”. This quote comes from her letter to Axel dated 28 June 1791. She continues this specific letter with: “Tell me to whom I should send my letters to you, for I cannot live without that. Farewell most loved and most loving of men. I embrace you with all my heart” (Lever page 264). He wrote back “I am fine and live only to serve you”.
Also Axel Feren really risked his own life and safety in planning the Flight to Varennes on 20 June 1791, taking care of all the arrangements and he himself acted as the coachman in getting the Royal Family out of Paris on the first part of the escape. Unfortunately he did not continue with then as Fersen requested, as the King saw no reason for him to continue with them further along on the trip.
Axel Fersen’s grandnephew Baron Klickowstrom allowed Fersen’s Journal and correspondence published in 1877 once he had censored parts of it by crossing out the texts completely. He refused access to the originals and said that he destroyed them. However according to Evelyn Lever, they turned up in 1982 and were subsequently acquired by the French National Archives. She inspected them. Lever says on page 165 of the English translation of her book: “There can be no doubt, given where they are placed and in their context, that these were crossed-out love messages. Indeed, one letter has been found that escaped the blue pencil. The words used by Marie Antoinette could not have been clearer in expressing her feelings for Fersen: ‘I can tell you that I love you’ she said to him”. This quote comes from her letter to Axel dated 28 June 1791. She continues this specific letter with: “Tell me to whom I should send my letters to you, for I cannot live without that. Farewell most loved and most loving of men. I embrace you with all my heart” (Lever page 264). He wrote back “I am fine and live only to serve you”.
29
French Royals / Re: Marie Antoinette and Axel Fersen
« on: October 25, 2007, 11:30:27 AM »
The expedition did not come off in 1779 and Fersen returned to Paris. According to Evelyn Lever in her biography on Marie Antoinette, there developed a serious romance during the Winter of 1779-1780. He left in March 1780 for America. He landed back in France on 17 June 1783.
On 31 July 1783 he writes to his sister Sophie Piper: “I am so happy that I can hardly believe it. I have more than one reason for that which I will tell you when we see each other. In spite of all the pleasure of seeing you again, I cannot leave Paris without regret. You will think it quite natural when you learn the cause of this regret. I will tell you, for I do not want to keep anything secret from you… I am very glad Miss Leyell is married. She won’t be mentioned to me again and I hope no one else will be found. I have made up my mind. I do not want to contract conjugal ties; they are contrary to nature… I cannot belong to the only person to whom I want to belong, the one who really loves me, and so I do not want to belong to anyone”.
Fifteen years later, on 15 July 1798, Axel writes in his Journal Intime: “I remember this day when I arrived from Dang; I stayed at Madame de Matignon’s and I went to Her for the first time”. Axel in his correspondence and Journal often referred to the Queen as Her/”Elle” with a capital letter. He also referred to her by one of her other baptismal names, Josephine. Axel had to accompany King Gustavus III on a tour of Italy in the first half of 1784 and during this time wrote twenty-seven letters to Josephine. According to his correspondence notebook: “To Josephine, May 18 and 21: no. 27, through Fontaine, that I cannot come before the King”. On 7 June 1784 King Gustavus III and his entourage arrived at Versailles for an extended stay of 6 weeks until 19 July 1784.
By 1787 there were plans made for his living arrangements within the Queen’s private apartment in Versailles. According to his correspondence notebook he wrote to Josephine on 3 March 1787: ”Plan of living upstairs; she should have a recess made for the stove”. Independent confirmation is found in the following note to the Director General of Buildings on 10 October: “The Queen has sent for the Swedish stove maker who made the stoves in Madame’s apartment, and Her Majesty ordered him to make one for one of her inner rooms, with heating pipes to warm a small neighboring room”. Lever says that the exact layout of her private apartment was not generally known. The rooms that today are regarded as the so-called “Fersen apartment” is in fact “upstairs” as Fersen wrote in his correspondence notebook, namely the rooms directly above the rooms that form a kind of “corridor” directly behind her bedroom in the direction of the Salon de l’Oeil de Boeuf.
On 31 July 1783 he writes to his sister Sophie Piper: “I am so happy that I can hardly believe it. I have more than one reason for that which I will tell you when we see each other. In spite of all the pleasure of seeing you again, I cannot leave Paris without regret. You will think it quite natural when you learn the cause of this regret. I will tell you, for I do not want to keep anything secret from you… I am very glad Miss Leyell is married. She won’t be mentioned to me again and I hope no one else will be found. I have made up my mind. I do not want to contract conjugal ties; they are contrary to nature… I cannot belong to the only person to whom I want to belong, the one who really loves me, and so I do not want to belong to anyone”.
Fifteen years later, on 15 July 1798, Axel writes in his Journal Intime: “I remember this day when I arrived from Dang; I stayed at Madame de Matignon’s and I went to Her for the first time”. Axel in his correspondence and Journal often referred to the Queen as Her/”Elle” with a capital letter. He also referred to her by one of her other baptismal names, Josephine. Axel had to accompany King Gustavus III on a tour of Italy in the first half of 1784 and during this time wrote twenty-seven letters to Josephine. According to his correspondence notebook: “To Josephine, May 18 and 21: no. 27, through Fontaine, that I cannot come before the King”. On 7 June 1784 King Gustavus III and his entourage arrived at Versailles for an extended stay of 6 weeks until 19 July 1784.
By 1787 there were plans made for his living arrangements within the Queen’s private apartment in Versailles. According to his correspondence notebook he wrote to Josephine on 3 March 1787: ”Plan of living upstairs; she should have a recess made for the stove”. Independent confirmation is found in the following note to the Director General of Buildings on 10 October: “The Queen has sent for the Swedish stove maker who made the stoves in Madame’s apartment, and Her Majesty ordered him to make one for one of her inner rooms, with heating pipes to warm a small neighboring room”. Lever says that the exact layout of her private apartment was not generally known. The rooms that today are regarded as the so-called “Fersen apartment” is in fact “upstairs” as Fersen wrote in his correspondence notebook, namely the rooms directly above the rooms that form a kind of “corridor” directly behind her bedroom in the direction of the Salon de l’Oeil de Boeuf.
30
French Royals / Re: Marie Antoinette and Axel Fersen
« on: October 25, 2007, 11:29:14 AM »
I have written a short resume and proceed to post it successively:
On 10 January 1774, Axel Fersen attended the Dauphine’s Ball at Versailles. On 30 January 1774, both attended the Paris masked Opera Ball. Axel writes in his Journal “Madame la Dauphine spoke to me a long time without me recognizing her. Later when she was recognized, everyone gathered around her and she retired into a loge”.
They next met in August 1778. On 26 August 1778, Axel wrote to his father “This past Wednesday, I went to Versailles to be presented to the Royal Family. The Queen who is charming said on seeing me: ‘Ah this is an old acquaintance!’ The rest of the Royal Family did not say a word to me”.
On 10 April 1779, the Swedish Ambassador Creutz, writes to King Gustavus III of Sweden: “I must confide to Your Majesty that the young Count Fersen is so well received by the Queen that it has given offence to several persons. I admit that I cannot refrain from thinking that she has a fondness for him: I saw signs of this that were too clear to leave any doubt (j’en ai vu des indices trop surs pour en douter). The young Count Fersen’s behavior on this occasion was admirable in its modesty and restraint and especially in his decision to go to America. By leaving, he removed all dangers, but of course wisdom and resolve beyond his years were required to overcome this seduction. The Queen could not take his eyes off him these last few days; as she watched him they filled with tears (La Reine ne pouvait pas le quitter des yeux les derniers jours; en le regardant, ils etaient remplis de larmes). I beg Your Majesty to keep this a secret for her sake and Senator Fersen’s”.
On 10 January 1774, Axel Fersen attended the Dauphine’s Ball at Versailles. On 30 January 1774, both attended the Paris masked Opera Ball. Axel writes in his Journal “Madame la Dauphine spoke to me a long time without me recognizing her. Later when she was recognized, everyone gathered around her and she retired into a loge”.
They next met in August 1778. On 26 August 1778, Axel wrote to his father “This past Wednesday, I went to Versailles to be presented to the Royal Family. The Queen who is charming said on seeing me: ‘Ah this is an old acquaintance!’ The rest of the Royal Family did not say a word to me”.
On 10 April 1779, the Swedish Ambassador Creutz, writes to King Gustavus III of Sweden: “I must confide to Your Majesty that the young Count Fersen is so well received by the Queen that it has given offence to several persons. I admit that I cannot refrain from thinking that she has a fondness for him: I saw signs of this that were too clear to leave any doubt (j’en ai vu des indices trop surs pour en douter). The young Count Fersen’s behavior on this occasion was admirable in its modesty and restraint and especially in his decision to go to America. By leaving, he removed all dangers, but of course wisdom and resolve beyond his years were required to overcome this seduction. The Queen could not take his eyes off him these last few days; as she watched him they filled with tears (La Reine ne pouvait pas le quitter des yeux les derniers jours; en le regardant, ils etaient remplis de larmes). I beg Your Majesty to keep this a secret for her sake and Senator Fersen’s”.