Palais Rohan, Strasbourg
Palais Rohan | |
---|---|
Alternative names | Palais des Rohan, Palais des Rohans |
General information | |
Type | Palace |
Architectural style | Baroque |
Location | Strasbourg, France |
Address | 2, place du Château, 67000 Strasbourg |
Coordinates | 48°34′51″N 7°45′08″E / 48.58083°N 7.75222°E |
Current tenants | Archaeological Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Decorative Arts |
Construction started | 1732 |
Completed | 1742 |
Owner | Municipality of Strasbourg |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Robert de Cotte, Joseph Massol |
Website | |
www |
The Palais Rohan (Rohan
.Reflecting the history of Strasbourg and of France, the palace has been owned successively by the nobility, the municipality, the monarchy, the state, the university, and the municipality again. Its architectural conception and its iconography were intended to indicate the return of Roman Catholicism to the city, which had been dominated by Protestantism for the previous two centuries. Thus the prelate's apartments face the cathedral, to the north, and many of the statues, reliefs and paintings reflect Catholic dogma.[4]
Since the end of the 19th century the palace has been home to three of Strasbourg's most important museums: the
History
Up to 1871
In 1727
Building work on the Palais Rohan took place from 1732 until 1742
The House of Rohan owned
The Palais Rohan remained the hôtel de ville until 1805. That year, the municipality presented it to
Since 1871
The year 1871 signified the end of French rule and the beginning of German rule over Alsace, which had until 1681 been linked to Germany through the
After the return of Alsace to French rule in 1918, the new director of the Musée des beaux-arts and the Musée des arts décoratifs, Hans Haug (1890–1965), put major efforts into presenting the Palais Rohan as a coherent whole again.[30] Strasbourg suffered during World War II, and on 11 August 1944 the palace was damaged by British and American bombs.[32] After the war, restoration measures were soon undertaken under the supervision of the architects Robert Danis (1879–1949)[33] and Bertrand Monnet (1910–1989),[34] but in 1947 a fire broke out and devastated a significant part of the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts. This fire was an indirect consequence of the bombing raids: because of the destruction inflicted on the palace, the building had suffered from damp, which was treated with welding torches, and poor handling of these caused the fire.[35]
Rebuilding and refurbishing the palace took until well into the 1950s, with full restoration not completed until the 1990s.[36] In 1989 a large trompe-l'œil fresco depicting the Roman goddess Ceres was rediscovered behind layers of plaster and white paint in the former dining hall, the eastern wing of the Synod Hall (see below, Apartments). It is thought to have been concealed under Napoleonic ownership, and had been forgotten since.[37]
Notable guests
King
Napoleon's second wife, Empress Marie Louise, spent her first nights on French soil in the palace, from 22 to 25 March 1810; she came from Austria like Marie-Antoinette. Other royal French guests were Charles X, on 7 and 8 September 1828,[N 4] and Louis Philippe I from 18 to 21 June 1831.[23]
In the early 20th century, the sculptor Ringel d′Illzach used one of the rooms of the palace as an atelier.[39] After World War II, the first great art exhibition in the palace, "L'Alsace française 1648–1948", was inaugurated on 13 June 1948 by Jean de Lattre de Tassigny,[40] one of the chief artisans of the Liberation of Alsace (1944–45).
On 8 May 1985, American President Ronald Reagan dined in the Palace and signed the official Strasbourg guestbook, on the occasion of his visit to the European Parliament.[41][42] In December 1989, the Palais Rohan hosted the dinner parties of the heads of state of the European Council, including François Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl, Margaret Thatcher, Giulio Andreotti and Felipe González.[43][44] Twenty years later, before the 2009 Strasbourg–Kehl summit, it was the site of a meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his American counterpart Barack Obama as well as their wives Carla Bruni and Michelle Obama. In the 21st century, the palace was the setting for the official dinner for the 2016 Fed Cup finalists,[45] the gala dinners for the 20th and the 25th anniversary of Eurimages,[46][47] as well as other festive receptions, since it can be booked for such occasions from the municipality.[16]
Structure
The palace is structured around a large and paved courtyard. It has a
The riverside façade is formed by the main residential bulk and the library wing on the west side, which offers a contrast in shape and design, notably through its single, very large window. The main part of the façade is symmetrically arranged around an
The courtyard façade of the main wing, in the same
The courtyard is divided in three sections separated by a row of arches. The left section (as seen from the cathedral) belongs to the Communs wing, which housed the servants. The right section belongs to the stables wing. Left and right of the façade are exedras decorated with busts of Roman emperors. The entrance to the palace is through the left exedra. Facing the courtyard façade is a peristyle with five arches. The central arch, the highest and widest, faces the centre of the façade and opens on the palace's main gate.[52]
The front of the palace on Place du Château (called Place de l'Évêché between 1740 and 1793),
Exterior views
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Entrance of the palace
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The main portal
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Façade facing the inner courtyard
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Pediment with coat of arms of the courtyard façade
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View from the main courtyard towards the entrance and the Cathedral
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Façade facing the river
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Detail of a wrought iron balcony
Apartments
The apartments on the piano nobile today form a part of the Musée des arts décoratifs.[22]
The chambers of the prince-bishops and cardinals of the
Many of the original furnishings were sold in the wake of the French Revolution. Some works of art, including the overdoors from the Salle des évêques, part of the municipal collections, were destroyed with the museum situated in the Aubette when the Prussian Army shelled the city during the Siege of Strasbourg in 1870.[21] In the 20th century and especially during the reconstruction following the bomb damage of August 1944, a great deal of effort went into locating the surviving missing objects and replacing the lost works with identical or similar pieces.[60] They were supervised by the aforementioned Hans Haug, who had become director of the newly created network of the municipal museums on 1 January 1945.[61] Some elements, though, were never restored, such as the stucco of the library. It was lost in 1817 because of leaks through the ceiling; as the only free-standing part of the building, the library has a flat roof.[22][59]
Among the works of art on view in the apartments, several stand out for their artistic and historic value. The set of eight (originally nine)
A pair of large canvases with hunting dogs by Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1742), now hanging in the Salle du synode, once hung in the Parisian hôtel particulier of Samuel-Jacques Bernard.[66] The three paintings in the chapel are copies of works by Antonio da Correggio: Adoration of the Shepherds, Virgin and Child with Sts Jerome and Madeleine, and The Rest on the Return from Egypt. They were made in 1724 in Modena and Parma by Robert de Séry (1686–1733) for Armand Gaston, whom he had met in Rome the same year.[67] De Séry would later provide many other paintings for the cardinal's apartments, all of them copies of paintings by greater masters. Napoleon's green bed is an authentic work by Jacob-Desmalter.[22]
The red
Interior views
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Synod hall
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Canopy bed in the King's bedchamber
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Chinese ceramics in the King's bedchamber
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Tapestry from "The History of Constantine" in the library
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Bedchamber of Napoleon in the Empire style
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18th-century pedal harp in the Prince-bishop's bedchamber
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18th-centurycocklestovein the Prince-bishop's antechamber
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Vases from China and a 17th-century bust of Septimius Severus from the Mazarin collection in the Bishop's hall
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Painting by Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1742) in the Synod hall
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1660s cabinet from Florence, Italy in the Prince-bishop's antechamber
Museums
Musée des beaux-arts
The Musée des beaux-arts (Museum of Fine Arts), on the first and second floors of the palace, is the successor of the Musée de peinture et de sculpture (Museum of painting and sculpture), established in 1803 and entirely destroyed by
Musée des arts décoratifs
The Musée des arts décoratifs (Museum of
Musée archéologique
The Musée archéologique (Archaeological Museum) is in the basement. The former archaeological collections of the city had been entirely destroyed, along with the municipal library, during the Siege of Strasbourg in 1870. A new collection was started in 1876 on behalf of the "Society for the preservation of the historical monuments of Alsace" (French: Société pour la conservation des Monuments historiques d'Alsace, German: Gesellschaft zur Erhaltung der geschichtlichen Denkmäler im Elsass). It was moved into the palace in 1889, first opened to the public in 1896, and moved to its present location in 1907.[79] The museum displays finds from northern Alsace from the Paleolithic Era to the Merovingian dynasty, with a special focus on Argentoratum.[80]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ German: bischöflicher Fronhof, shortened to Bischofshof, "bishop's court",[7] also known as "bishop's palace" (German: bischöfliche Pfalz).[8]
- ^ Although Rigaud's original had been destroyed, contemporaneous copies have survived such as the one kept in the Palace of Versailles.[20]
- ^ The website of the Musées de Strasbourg erroneously writes "1829".[22]
- ^ The website of the Musées de Strasbourg erroneously writes "1743",[22] according to Étienne Martin, the carpet was woven between May and November 1745.
- ^ The website of the Musées de Strasbourg erroneously writes "17th century"[22]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Le Palais Rohan". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ Johnson, Paul (24 May 2006). "The message of a great European cathedral". The Spectator.
- ^ Sherwood, Seth (17 December 2014). "36 Hours in Strasbourg, France". The New York Times.
- ^ Borda d'Água, Flávio (Summer 2013). "Le Palais Rohan : un joyau princier au coeur de Strasbourg". La Gazette des Délices.
- ^ Base Mérimée: Palais des Rohan, actuellement Musée archéologique et Musée des Beaux Arts et Arts Décoratifs, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
- ^ ISBN 978-2-35125-098-3.
- ^ "Der Bischofshof zu Strassburg". archi-wiki.org. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ^ "L'ancien Hôtel de Ville ou Pfalz". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ "Place du château ou Fronhof". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- .
- ^ "Des légionnaires romains aux bâtisseurs de la cathédrale : la fouille de la place du Château à Strasbourg". Institut national des recherches archéologiques préventives (Inrap). 30 May 2012.
- ^ Martin, p. 94.
- ^ Martin, pp. 94–95, 116, 121, 153, 181, 184.
- ^ a b c "Collections". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Le pouvoir royal et l'architecture". Base numérique du patrimoine d'Alsace. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Le Palais Rohan" (PDF). Strasbourg Convention Bureau.
- ^ Martin, pp. 30–31.
- ^ Martin, p. 214.
- ^ ISBN 2-7032-0185-0.
- ^ James-Sarazin, Ariane. "Hyacinthe Rigaud - Portrait d'une clientèle : Les princes de l'Église". MEDITERRANEES. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ a b Martin, p. 221, note 86.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Les appartements". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ a b c Martin, p. 219.
- ^ "France, 1800–1900 A.D." The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "L'Alsace entre 1870 et 1914". Centre régional de documentation pédagogique de Strasbourg. 26 March 2012.
- ^ "Franco-German War". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "Alsace from 1871 to 1918". Musée virtuel du protestantisme. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "L'université impériale : 1872–1918". Université de Strasbourg. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "La bibliothèque nationale et universitaire de Strasbourg" (PDF). Université Paris Nanterre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
- ^ a b c "A long and eventful history". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "Histoire". Société des amis des arts et des musées de Strasbourg. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ "Bombardements de 1944". archi-wiki.org. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ISBN 978-2-35125-071-6.
- ^ "Bertrand Monnet". archi-wiki.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ISBN 978-2-35125-030-3.
- ^ Recht, Foessel, Klein, p. 66.
- ^ Schnitzler, p. 53.
- ^ a b Martin, p. 190.
- ^ "Dober Karl (1855-1928): Atelier de Ringel d'Illzach au Palais Rohan à Strasbourg". araGo. Retrieved 1 May 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Schnitzler, pp. 184–185.
- ^ "Official visit of Ronald REAGAN President of the United States in Strasbourg in May 1985. Official dinner". Multimedia Centre of the European Parliament. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "President Reagan's Trip to Strasbourg, France on May 8, 1985". YouTube. Reagan Library. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
- ^ "Strasbourg European Council, 08-09/12/1989". European Commission Audiovisual Services. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "Conseil européen de Strasbourg". European Commission Audiovisual Services. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- ^ "The teams arrive at the official dinner". Fed Cup (press release). 11 November 2016. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
- ^ "Eurimages fête ses 20 ans". Council of Europe. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ "President Speech, Gala Dinner, 14th October 2014, Palais Rohan − Strasbourg" (PDF). Council of Europe. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ Martin, p. 87.
- ^ Martin, pp. 87–90.
- ^ Martin, pp. 51 and 83.
- ^ a b Parent, Brigitte. "Château (place du) N°02". Les mascarons de Strasbourg. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ Martin, pp. 58, 64, 75–76, 83, 87 and 90.
- ^ "Historique du nom de la place". archi-wiki.org. Retrieved 24 July 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Statues du Peristyle". archi-wiki.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ Martin, pp. 58 and 64.
- ^ Recht, Foessel, Klein, p. 71.
- ^ Martin, p. 50.
- ^ Recht, Foessel, Klein, p. 67.
- ^ a b c Martin, p. 184.
- ^ Schnitzler, pp. 191–192.
- ^ Schnitzler, p. 186.
- ^ Martin, p. 148.
- ^ Martin, p. 133.
- ^ Martin, pp. 184 and 222.
- ^ "Le goût chinois du cardinal de Rohan". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Archived from the original on 5 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- ^ a b Martin, p. 211.
- ^ Martin, p. 187.
- ^ Martin, p. 221, note 93.
- ^ Martin, p. 222, note 126.
- ^ Martin, p. 193.
- ISBN 2-901833-78-0.
- ^ Jacquot, p. 210.
- ^ "Le siège de Strasbourg". Centre régional de documentation pédagogique de Strasbourg. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "History (Musée de l'Oeuvre Notre-Dame)". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
- ^ "History (Musée des arts décoratifs)". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
- ^ "Musée historique - histoire". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Strasbourg - Cathedral area". Travel for Kids. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- ^ "L'aile des arts décoratifs". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
- ^ Schnitzler, Bernadette; Schneider, Malou (1985). Le Musée archéologique de Strasbourg. Strasbourg: Musées de Strasbourg. p. 11.
- ^ "Collection". Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
Further reading
- Ludmann, Jean-Daniel; Livet, Georges (1979). Le Palais Rohan de Strasbourg (in French). Strasbourg: Éditions des Dernières Nouvelles – ISTRA diffusion S.A.E.D. ISBN 978-2-7165-0026-5.
- Ludmann, Jean-Daniel (1985). Les grands appartements du Palais Rohan de Strasbourg (in French). Strasbourg: Musées de Strasbourg. (no ISBN)
- Boutineau, Maryla (2016). Suivez le guide au Palais Rohan (in French). Bernardswiller: I. D. L'Édition. ISBN 978-2-36701-086-1.
External links
- Official website
- Palais Rohan, Strasbourg at archINFORM
- Palais des Rohan - 2 place du Château Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine on archi-wiki.org
- Strasbourg Office of Tourism website for Rohan Palace