Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/120

* VEKROCCHIO. which were cast somewhat later by Alessandro Leopardi, who also designed the pedestal. Ill painting he is more famous through his pupils Leonardo da Vinci and Lorenzo di Credi, than for his own achievements. There is much dispute over the pictures to be assigned to him. The "Baiitism of Christ" (Florentine Academy), in which Leonardo assisted, is one of the few certain attributions. His figures are well modeled, but somewhat stiff in action and hard in color. He was. however, an innovator in that he was the first Florentine to render atmospheric perspective. Of the nu- merous drawings attributed to him the "Angel's Head," in the Ufiizi, and a "Female Head," in the British Museum, are the most celebrated. Consult: jMackowsky, Verrocchio (Bielefeld, 1901) ; and Bode, Italienische Bildhatier der Re- naissance (Berlin, 1887); also Perkins, Tuscan Sculptors (London, 1864). VERSAILLES, verVa'y'. The capital of the Department of Seine-et-Oise, France, situated about 12 miles br rail and by tram south- west of Paris (Map: France, .13). The fiat town, with its quiet avenues, has little of inter- est or charm save what is offered by the famous palace and park, whose magnificence under the Bourbons made this unequaled in fame among all the royal residences of the world. In the town are a library of over 112,000 volumes, a hippodrome, and a shooting school. The population in 1901 numbered 54.982: it was formerly 100.000. The palace, dating from 16G1. and restored and converted into an historical museum under Louis Philippe, is on the western side of the town, with the park beyond. The park is laid out on regular lines running obliquely to the meridian. Three spacious avenues — the middle one the historic Avenue de Paris — pass through Versailles and converge in the great Place des Amies, which separates the palace from the town and through which the former is entered. South of this place is the room of the Jeu de Paume, where the famous Third Estate met in .June. 1780. The room contains a Musfe de la Revolution. The palace is composed of a central square, two wings at the right and left of it. and a third wing backing on the square and extending into the park. The imposing facade is one- fourth of a mile long. The Cour d'Honneur is entered from the Place, large pillars marking the entrance and symbolizing national victories under Louis XIV. Most of the great French paint- ers, notably David, Delacroix, and Horace Ver- net, are represented here, and all the history of France, with its great battles and cercmnnies, is spread on canvas before the visitor. There are also countless portraits and statues. The royal eha])el is sumptuously adorned, and has good ceiling pictures b.y Coypel. At the north end of this wing is the theatre, built by Louis XV. and used by the National Assembly after the Franco-Prussian War and later by the Senate. The Rooms of the Crusades are resplendent and cov- ered with large modern paintings. The impres- sive Galerie de Constantine holds some of the finest battle pictures of Vernet. The Oninds Apartments of Louis XIV. overlook the park, and contain noteworthy paintings. Adjoining is the famous Galerie des Glaces — an immense and sumptuous room facing the centre of the gardens. Its paintings are Ijy Charles Lebrun. William 1. 88 VERSAILLES. was proclaimed Emperor of Germany in this room in 1871. The bedchamber of Louis XIV. is im- posing and contains the magnificent bed on which he breathed his last. His Petits Appartements are contiguous, and include the bedchamber of Louis XV., where he died. The famous antechamber — the ffiil de Bteuf, so termed from its oval win- dow — was where the gentlemen of the Court awaited the royal 'lever.' The Grands Appart- ements of the Queen are beautifully decorated. In the immense and gorgeous Galerie des Batailles — over 130 yards long — are many grand battle pictures by modern French artists. The Galerie de I'Empire contains paintings representing the career of Napoleon. The park with its decorative ponds and vast fountains was first laid out b.y the celebrated Le Nutre. It is imposing^ but thorough!}- stiff and artificial, and has served as a famous type of Renaissance garden. Terraces, large orna- mental basins, huge vases overflowing with flow- ers, countless marble groups and busts, statues — especiall.v reflecting the appropriate art of Coy- zevox — quincunxes, bosquets, and geometrically trimmed trees, here mock nature and the natural. An immense pond stretches away in the shape of a cross in front of the palace. The pla,ving of the grand fountains, enlivened by colored lights, is one of the great sights in and about Paris. The water is supplied by the famous machine of ilarly. The largest fountain, the Bassin de N^eptune, is a wonderful piece of hvdraulic me- chanism. Two immense flights of marble step descend on the opposite side of the palace to the famous orangery, beyond which extends a vast pond which was dug by the Swiss guard of Louis XIV. A school of horticulture is near. The gar- dens proper have a salle de Bal or des Rocailles, and contain the Bosquet de la Reine, where the notorious transaction of the diamond neck- lace took place. In the northern section of the park are the charming Grand and Petit Trianon. (See Trianox.) Near by are the carriage houses, with many vehicles of state, including some of the magnificent equipages used by Xajioleon. History. When Louis XIV. chose Versailles as the site of his new palace and park, it had little to commend it, being a low, swampy area, and distant from an adequate water supply. A chateau (1627) of Louis XIII.. however, was situated here. The 'grand monarch' lavished vast sums in laying out. comideting, and maintaining this magnificent royal seat. The Court came here permanently about 1682, and from this date for over a hundred years Versailles figuroil ]irominentl.v in history. Louis XV. dwelt here and Madame de Pompadour and Madame Du Barry reigned over this vast pleasure establish- ment. Here, too, Louis XVI. and Alarie An- toinette resided. lu the palace was signed the treaty of 1783 between England, France, and Spain, on the same day (September 3d) on which the definite treaty of peace in which England recognized the indejiendencc of the I'nited States was signed in Paris. On October 6th the palace was ravaged in the ]iresenec of Louis bv the market women and llsh wives, with the result that the King and (.biccii were forced to go to Paris. The meeting of the States-General, the ]iening act of the Frencli Hevcdution. took place here on May 4, 1789. Since then it has has never been a residence. During the siege of Paris in