This summer, when I was working with one of the curators, I discovered the Attique Chimay, a gallery of rooms, all of which containing painting concerning the French Revolution (from 1789 to about 1794). This gallery is only open to the public on few occasions (for the Journées du Patrimoine in September for example). When I visited it, I was alone with the curator and another person from the Palace.
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| picture of one of the rooms of the Attique Chimay [X] |
When enterring the gallery, the first thing you can see is actually the masterpiece of the Attique. It is an sketch of the monumental painting by Jacques Louis David representing the Serment du Jeu De Paume.
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| The skecth (4.00 x 6.00 m), Photo RMN |
On June 20, 1789, representatives gatherred in Versailles. They were all wishing dor a change in French political life. They locked themselves inside the Jeu De Paume court of Versailles (the jeu de paume being a sort of indoor tennis) and took the oath of not going out until they have found and written a constitution for France. This assembly is considered to be the first French National Assembly ever held. It is therefore a founding moment of the French democracy.
A year later, in 1790, paintor Jacques-Louis David began a gigantic painting, being funded by the people, representing this historical moment. Unfortunately he never had enough money to finish it, and he left esquisses but no finished painting. Also around 1792, the Revolution started radicalising and David, in his idea of the painting, wanted to represent the people who took part in the Oath, but most of them were moderate Revolutionnaries, so with the befonning of the Terror, it did not appeared as such a good idea to represent people who were now in sort of disgrace.
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| "June 20, 1789. They had sworn, they accomplished their oath" Photo taken in the Salle du Jeu De Paume by me, July 2013 |
A year later, in 1790, paintor Jacques-Louis David began a gigantic painting, being funded by the people, representing this historical moment. Unfortunately he never had enough money to finish it, and he left esquisses but no finished painting. Also around 1792, the Revolution started radicalising and David, in his idea of the painting, wanted to represent the people who took part in the Oath, but most of them were moderate Revolutionnaries, so with the befonning of the Terror, it did not appeared as such a good idea to represent people who were now in sort of disgrace.
In 1883, the French Republic wished to establish a Museum of the Revolution in the Salle du Jeu De Paume of Versailles and charged paintor Merson to paint from all of David's sketches, the final picture.
In the Attique Chimay of Versailles is diplayed one of the rare sketches of the original painter. It is a very impressive picture, first by the size of it (the characters are almost life-scaled) and by the fact that David draw every muscle of their body. It shows how a great artist like him worked at the time.
In the Attique Chimay of Versailles is diplayed one of the rare sketches of the original painter. It is a very impressive picture, first by the size of it (the characters are almost life-scaled) and by the fact that David draw every muscle of their body. It shows how a great artist like him worked at the time.
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| The finished painting by Merson, photo RMN |
A few days after, I went visiting the Salle Du Jeu De Paume in the city of Versailles, and it was a very impressive thing. I think I was mostly impressed by the fact that it is the birthplace of our democracy, and also that it is still in place and un-altered after 225 years ! Every representative's name was written on the walls (it was fun to look for the deputy from my area ! ), and some engravings representing this moment were displayed around the room.
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| Salle du Jeu de Paume in Versailles. Photo by me, July 2013 |
I think the Attique Chimay can be visited with a French revolution special guided tour of the Palace
Here is a link to the guided tours program, I gather it might be in the "De la prise de la Bastille à la chute de Robespierre 1789-1794" visit, but I am not absolutely sure about it.
Here is a link to the guided tours program, I gather it might be in the "De la prise de la Bastille à la chute de Robespierre 1789-1794" visit, but I am not absolutely sure about it.
