Gallery in the Palace of Versailles
View of the Galerie des Batailles
Louis-Philippe opening the Galerie des Batailles , 10 June 1837 , painted by
François-Joseph Heim
Central part of the ceiling of the Galerie des Batailles
The Galerie des Batailles (French:
[ɡalʁi de bataj] ; English: "Gallery of Battles" ) is a gallery occupying the first floor of the Aile du Midi of the
Palace of Versailles , joining onto the
grand and
petit appartement de la reine . 120 m (390 ft) long and 13 m (43 ft) wide, it is an epigone of the grand gallery of the
Louvre and was intended to glorify French military history from the
Battle of Tolbiac (traditionally dated 496) to the
Battle of Wagram (5–6 July 1809).
History
The gallery was a major component of the
Musée de l'Histoire de France created by
Louis-Philippe I . It replaced apartments which had been occupied in the 17th and 18th centuries by
The architects
Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine
[1] and Frédéric Nepveu created a solemn decorative scheme for it, with a wide cornice supporting a coffered painted ceiling with entablatures supported by Corinthian columns along the length of the gallery. 13 bronze tablets on the wall are inscribed with the names of princes, admirals, constables, marshals and warriors killed or wounded whilst fighting for France. There are also busts placed on supports against the columns and between the paintings.
The main contents of the rooms, however, were envisaged as the vast paintings showing major military events in French history, some already in existence but mostly specially commissioned for the Galerie. While a number of them were of questionable quality, a few masterpieces, such as the Battle of Taillebourg by
Eugène Delacroix , were displayed here.
List of busts and paintings
Floor plan of the Galerie des Batailles
Numbers correspond to floor plan.
Joseph-Antoine, prince Poniatowski , maréchal de l'Empire (1762–1813). Artist : François-Augustin Caunois (1787–1859).
Adolphe Édouard Casimir Joseph Mortier , duc de Trévise, maréchal de l'Empire (1768–1835). Artist :
Théophile-François Marcel Bra (1797–1863).
Jean-Baptiste Bessières , duc d'Istries, maréchal de l'Empire (1768–1813). Artist :
François Masson (1745–1807).
Henri LXI, prince de Reuss-Schleiz , général de brigade in French service (1784–1813). Artist :
Charles-François Lebœuf .
Battle of Tolbiac , won by
Clovis I over the
Alamanni in 496. Artist :
Ary Scheffer (1795–1858). 4.15m by 4.65m
Simon de Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester , duke of Narbonne (c 1150–1218). Artist :
Jean-Jacques Feuchère (1807–1852).
Robert d'Artois , son of
Otto IV and
Mahaut d'Artois (died 1317). Artist :
Jean-Jacques Flatters (1786–1845).
Hugues Quieret , French admiral, died 1340. Artist :
Charles Émile Seurre (1798–1858).
Nicolas Béhuchet , French admiral, died 1340. Artist :
Bernard Seurre (1795–1867).
Commemorative tablet at the north end of the galerie.
Commemorative tablet at the north end of the galerie.
Alexandre-Antoine Hureau, comte de Sénarmont , général de division (1732–1810). Artist :
Antoine Laurent Dantan the Elder (1798–1878).
César Charles Étienne, comte Gudin , général de division (1768–1812). Artist :
Louis-Denis Caillouette (1790–1868) (also spelled Caillouet or Cailhouët).
Walter VI of Brienne ,
Duke of Athens ,
constable of France in 1356 (died 1356). Artist : Justin-Marie Lequien (1796–1882).
Peter I, Duke of Bourbon (c 1311–1356). Artist :
Louis-Eugène Bion (1807–1860).
Battle of Friedland , 14 June 1807, 5.43m by 4.65m, showing
Napoleon I and count
Nicolas Charles Oudinot
Antoine Louis Charles , comte Lasalle, général de division (1775–1809). Artist : after
Auguste Taunay (1768–1824) .
Battle of Wagram , 6 July 1809, by
Horace Vernet . Dimensions : 5.3m by 4.65m, showing Napoleon I and the
duc d'Istrie .
Jean-Baptiste Cervoni , général de division (1765–1809). Artist : after Pietro Cardelli (1776–1822).
Battle of Jena , 14 October 1806, 5.43m by 4.65m, showing
Napoleon I , Joachim Murat and Louis Alexandre Berthier, dated and signed "Horace Vernet 1836"
Jean Lannes ,
duc de Montebello , maréchal de l'Empire (1769–1809). Artist :
François Masson (1745–1807).
Battle of Austerlitz , 2 December 1805, oil on canvas, sketch after an original that in 1846 was in the Paillet collection, commissioned by Napoleon I for the ceiling of the salle du Conseil d'État at the
palais des Tuileries in Paris, showing Napoleon accompanied by
Jean Rapp , 9.58m by 5.10m
Nicolas-Bernard, général-baron Guiot de Lacour , général de division (1771–1809). Mortally wounded at
Wagram (wearing the cross of the Légion d'honneur and the cross of the
Military Order of St. Henry of Saxony). Artist :
Jean-Baptiste Joseph Debay , le Fils (1802–1862)
Battle of Hohenlinden , 3 December 1800, showing
Jean Victor Moreau ,
Michel Ney ,
Emmanuel de Grouchy , Jean de Habsburg, signed "H Schopin".
André Bruno de Frévol , comte de La Coste, général de brigade (1775–1809). After : Claude Michel (known as
Clodion ) (1738–1814).
Second Battle of Zürich , 25 September 1799, oil on canvas, showing
André Masséna , the comte Nicolase,
Charles Oudinot and count
Honoré Charles Reille . Artist :
François Bouchot , signed 1837. Commissioned by
Louis-Philippe in 1835, 5.43 m by 4.65 m
Claude-Louis-Constant Corbineau , général de brigade (1772–1807). Artist :
Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire (1798–1880).
Battle of Rivoli .
Jacques Desjardin , général de division (1759–1807) (killed at the
battle of Eylau ). Artist:
Antoine Laurent Dantan , l'Aîné (1798–1878)
Joseph Sécret Pascal-Vallongue , général de Brigade (1763–1806). Artist :
Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Debay , le Père (1779–1863).
Charles the Bold ,
duke of Burgundy (1433–1477). Artist :
Charles-François Lebœuf (1792–1865), Nanteuil, also known as Nanteuil-Lebœuf.
Prigent de Coëtivy , sire de Coëtivy,
Admiral of France . Killed at the
siege of Cherbourg (1450) .
Battle of Cassel . Won by
Philippe de Valois . 23 August 1328. 5.43m by 4.65m, showing Philip and Nicolas Zonnekin, dated and signed "
Scheffer Henry 1837".
John Stewart, Earl of Buchan ,
constable of France . Killed at the
Battle of Verneuil (1424)
Battle of Mons-en-Pévèle , won on 18 August 1304 by
Philip the Fair against the Flemish army. Produced : c 1839. Artist :
Charles-Philippe Larivière (1798–1876). 4.65m by 5.43 m
Anthony, Duke of Brabant , killed at the
battle of Agincourt in 1415.
Battle of Taillebourg , won by
Saint Louis on 21 July 1242. Artist :
Eugène Delacroix (1798–1863). Date : 1837. 4.89m by 5.54 m
Jacques de Châtillon de Dampierre , Amiral de France. Killed at the battle of Agincourt 1415.
Philippe-Auguste before the
battle of Bouvines , 27 July 1214. Artist :
Horace Vernet (1789–1863). Date : 1827. Technique : oil on canvas, 5.1m by 9.58m
Jean de Vienne . Admiral of France. Killed at the
battle of Nicopolis 1396.
Count
Eudes defending Paris against the Normans in 885, 5.42m by 4.65m, commissioned by Louis-Philippe in 1834, signed "
V. Schnetz ".
Charles de Blois , killed at
Auray , 1364
Charlemagne receiving the submission of
Widukind , king of the Saxons at
Paderborn in 785. Artist :
Ary Scheffer (1795–1858) ; 4.65m by 5.42m
James I, Count of La Marche , constable of France. Killed at the
battle of Brignais 1361.
Battle of Poitiers , October 732, under
Charles de Steuben . Dimensions : 5.42m by 4.65m, showing
Charles Martel ,
Odo the Great and
Abd-el-Rahman , dated and signed "STEUBEN 1837".
Louis d’Armagnac , duke of Nemours. Killed at Gérignole. 1503. (
Rude )
Gaston of Foix, Duke of Nemours . Killed at the
battle of Ravenna 1512
Battle of Cocherel , near Évreux, won by
Bertrand du Guesclin over the troops of
Charles II of Navarre , 16 May 1364. Artist :
Charles-Philippe Larivière (1798–1876). Dated: c 1837. 4.25m by 2.6m
Pierre du Terrail seigneur de Bayard. Killed at
Rebec 1524.
Guillaume Gouffier de Bonnivet ,
admiral of France , killed at
Pavia , 1525.
Jacques II de Chabannes de La Palice known as La Palice,
marshal of France , killed at Pavia 1525.
Jean de Bourbon , comte de Soissons. Killed at
Saint-Quentin , 1557.
Raising of the
Siege of Orléans by
Joan of Arc
André de Montalembert seigneur d’Essé. Killed at the siege of Terouanne. 1555. (Taley)
Piero Strozzi . Killed at
Thionville . 1553 (Taley)
Anne, duc de Montmorency , (1572–1567)
Jacques d'Albon, seigneur de Saint-André , maréchal de France (c 1505–1562). Artist :
Jean-François-Théodore Gechter (1796–1844).
Battle of Castillon won by
Jean de Dunois over the English forces under
Lord Talbot , 17 July 1453.
Charles de La Rochefoucauld , comte de Randan.
Antoine de Bourbon . King of Navarre
Anne, duc de Joyeuse
Claude de Loraine , duc d’Aumale
Entry of
Charles VIII into
Naples . 12 May 1495.
Bernard de Nogaret , seigneur de Lavalette, Amiral de France
Battle of Marignan won by
Francis I of France on 14 September 1515, showing Francis ordering his troops to stop pursuing the Swiss. Artist :
Alexandre-Évariste Fragonard (1780–1850) 4.65m by 5.43m
Armand de Gontaut, baron de Biron . Maréchal de France. Killed at
Épernay 1592. Artist: Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Debay, le Père (1779–1863)
Capture of Calais by
Francis, Duke of Guise , on 9 January 1558. Artist :
François-Édouard Picot (1786–1868). 4.65m by 5.43 m
Jean d'Aumont ,
maréchal de France , killed at
Combourg in Brittany, 1595. Artist :
Auguste-Alexandre Dumont (1801–1884), known as Auguste or Augustin Dumont
Henry IV 's entry into Paris, 22 March 1594. Artist :
François Pascal Simon Gérard(baron) (1770–1837). 5.1m by 9.58 m
André Baptiste de Brancas , seigneur de Villars,
amiral de France , killed at the
Siege of Doullens , in 1595. (
Victor Thérasse )
Battle of Rocroi , 19 May 1643, the
duc d'Enghien ordering his troops to stop fighting the Spanish, who have come to him to surrender. Artist : François Joseph Heim (1787–1865.)vers 1834, 4.65m by 5.43m
Jean du Caylarde, marquis de Toiras , Killed at
Fontaneto in the Milanais. 1636. (Calnouet)
The
Grand Condé at the
battle of Lens , 20 August 1648, victory over the Spanish troops commanded by archduke Leopold. Circa 1835, Artist :
Jean-Pierre Franque (1774–1860). 4.65m by 5.43m
Charles de Créquy ,
maréchal de France , killed before the fort of
Breme , 1636. (Davitan the younger)
Battle of the Dunes at the siege of Dunkirk, won by the
maréchal de Turenne over the Spanish in June 1658. Artist :
Charles-Philippe Larivière (1798–1876). Date : 1837. 4.65m by 5.43m
Manassès de Pas, marquis de Feuquières . Lieutenant général des armées du roi. Killed at
Thionville in 1640. (
Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire )
Armand de Maillé, marquis de Brézé, duc de Fronsac .
Amiral de France . Killed at the
battle of Orbetello , 1646
Jean Baptiste Budes baron de Guébriant . Maréchal de France. Killed at Rothweil, 1643. (
Jean-Pierre Cortot )
Jacques marquis de Castelnau , maréchal de France. Killed at
Dunkirk in 1653.
Jean de Gassion Maréchal de France. Killed at
Lens in 1647.
Jacques de Rougé, marquis du Plessis-Bellière . Lieutenant général des armées du roi. Killed at Castellamare in 1654 (
Jean Bernard Duseigneur )
Capture of
Valenciennes , 17 March 1677. "Louis XIV", oil on canvas, dated "1837", the year it was commissioned by Louis-Philippe; 4.65m by 4.15m
François, Duke of Beaufort . Admiral of France. Killed at the
Siege of Candia in 1669 (Mercier)
Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne vicomte de Turenne. Maréchal de France. Killed near
Sasbach in 1675 (Flatter)
Pierre Claude Berbier du Metz, lieutenant général des armées du roi. Killed at the
battle of Fleurus , 1690 (
François Jouffroy )
Nicolas de la Brousse comte de Vertillac. Maréchal des camps et armées du roi. Killed near Bossu. 1693. (
Lescorné )
Charles Paris d'Orléans, Duke of Longueville . Killed during the Rhine crossing in 1672. (
François Jouffroy )
Jean-Baptiste Cassagnet marquis de Tilladet, lieutenant général des armées du roi. Killed at
Steenkerque en 1692. (Debay)
Battle of Marsaglia , won by
Nicolas Catinat over the Piedmontese troops of
Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia assisted by
Prince Eugene of Savoy , on 4 October 1693. Artist :
Devéria Eugène (1805–1865). Date : 1837 ; 4.65m by 5.43m
Béat Jacques de la Tour Chatillon comte de Zurlauben. Lieutenant général des armées du roi. Killed at
Hochstett in 1704. (
François Jouffroy )
Battle of Villaviciosa won by
Louis Joseph, Duke of Vendôme over count
Guido Starhemberg on 10 December 1710. Artist :
Jean Alaux , known as Le Romain (1786–1864) Date : 1836. 4.65m by 5.43m
Ferdinand, comte de Marsin , maréchal de France. Killed at Turin. 1706 (Jouffroy)
Battle of Denain , won by
Claude Louis Hector de Villars over
Prince Eugene of Savoy on 24 July 1712. Artist :
Jean Alaux , known as Le Romain (1786–1864). Date : 1839. 4.65m by 5.43m
James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick , marshal (1671–1734) Artist : Antoine-Laurent Dantan, the Elder (1798–1878)
The
Battle of Fontenoy , 11 May 1745, showing
Maurice de Saxe presenting the captured British and Dutch prisoners and colours to
Louis XV and the
dauphin ; Artist: Horace Vernet (1789–1863). Date:1828. 5.1m by 9.58m
Louis Joseph de Saint Véran, marquis de Montcalm . Lieutenant général des armées du roi. Killed at the
Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. (
Francisque Duret )
Siege of Yorktown .
général Rochambeau and
George Washington give the final orders to attack. October 1781
Pierre-François, Marquess of Rougé . Lieutenant général des armées du roi. Killed at Villinghausen in 1761 (L. Debay)
Battle of Lawfeld , 2 July 1747 : Louis XV pointing out the village of Lawfeld to
Maurice de Saxe . Artist :
Pierre Lenfant (1704–1787). Period : reign of Louis XV (1723–1774). 2.75m by 2.5m
Jacques Christophe Coquille Dugommier . Commander in chief. Killed at the
Battle of the Black Mountain . 1794 (
Antoine-Denis Chaudet )
Battle of Fleurus , won by
Jean-Baptiste Jourdan over the Austrian forces led by the princes of
Coburg and
Orange on 26 June 1794. Date : 1837. Oil on canvas, 4.65m by 5.43m.
Amédée Emmanuel François Laharpe . Général de division. Killed in the crossing of the
River Po . 1796. (
Félix Lecomte )
Jean Gilles André Robert , général de brigade. Killed at the
Battle of Arcole in 1796. (
Gois fils )
Martial Beyrand , général de brigade. Killed at
Castiglione in 1796. (Corbet)
Charles Abattucci . Général de division. Killed at
Huningue . 1796. (Dubray)
Siege of Yorktown
Jean-Jacques Causse . Général de brigade. Killed at
Dego . 1796. (E. Dumont)
Pierre Banel . Général de Brigade. Killed at Cossaria. 1796. (
Lorenzo Bartolini )
Louis Marie de Caffarelli du Falga . Général de division. Killed at the
Siege of Acre in 1799.
François Masson (1745–1807)
Barthélemy Catherine Joubert , Général en chef of the
armée d’Italie . Killed at the
Battle of Novi in 1799. (
Louis-Simon Boizot )
Commemorative plaques
Dominique Martin Dupuy . Général de brigade. Killed in Cairo in 1798. (
Philippe-Laurent Roland )
François Paul Brueys, comte d’Aigalliers . Vice-amiral. Killed at the
Battle of the Nile in 1799. (Flatters)
Louis Marie, vicomte de Noailles . Général de brigade. Died of wounds in Havana. 1804. (Dantan aîné)
Jean Louis Debilly . Général de brigade. Killed at the
battle of Jena . 1806. (J.Debay)
-
Jean Baptiste Kléber , général en chef (1753–1800). After Philippe Joseph Henri Lemaire (1798–1880) (location uncertain)
François Louis de Morlan . Killed at the
battle of Austerlitz in 1805. (Charpentier)
Damage
In 1978, Breton nationalists of the
Breton Revolutionary Army caused major damage to the Galerie
[2] in planting a bomb. Having failed to plant one in the
Hall of Mirrors , they moved to the galerie des Batailles, targeting Napoleon as a symbol of French colonialism.
See also
References
Bibliography
Constans, Claire (1985). "1837: L'inauguration par Louis-Philippe du musée dédié 'À Toutes les gloires de la France'". Colloque de Versailles
Mauguin, Georges (1937). "L’Inauguration du Musée de Versailles". Revue de l’histoire de Versailles : 112–146
Verlet, Pierre (1985). Le château de Versailles. Paris: Librairie Arthème Fayard.
48°48′16″N 2°07′15″E / 48.80444°N 2.12083°E / 48.80444; 2.12083