Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-05-29
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THE BURNED RUILDINGS.
THE PALACE OF THE TUILERIES-ITS
HISTORY AND MAGNIFICENCE.

The magnificent building which has
been sacrificed to the insanity Of the
Paris mob has history extending over
centuries. In 1864, Catherine de Medicis
began its erection. A prediction bidding
her beware of St. Germain and the Tuiler-
les caused her to abandon the work, and
leave it for Henry Nv. to extend and en-
bellish. He began the long work which
joins the Louvre to the palace; and the
works suspended by his death were
carried on and terminated by Louis XIII,
who fixed his residence here. Louis xiv.
having ordered Lcvan and D'Orbay to
harmonize the whole, an attic was added
to the central buildings, and other inn
portant improvements made. This mon
arch resided in the Tiuleries occasionally
until the building of Versailles, when the
court entirely iorsook the capital. The
Regent Duke of Orleans fixed his abode
in the Tuileries during the minority of
Louis XIV; but from that period till the
forced return of Louis XVI. the families
OF persons officially attached to the court
occupying it.
During and since the great Revolution
the palace Of the Tuileries was assoc-a.de
with many memorable scenes. The mob
entered it on the goth of June, 1892, and
it was attacked and the Swiss guards
massacred in the August following. 1t
was the official residence of Napoleon
when First Consul, and when he became
Emperor 1t formed one of the imperial
palcaes. In 1903, Napoleon began tie
northern gallery to serve as communica-
tion with the Louvre. After the restora.
ton the Tuileries continued to be the chief
residence Of the King and royal family.
4 xt,,Ssx
people attacked and took the palace (June
29, Louis Philippe fixed his residence in
it, and continued to inhabit it until the
oath of February, ls4s, when it was ag,in
invaded by the people, and the King
made his escape. By decree Of the pro-
visional government of 48, it was to be
transformed into an asylum for invalid
workmen, but that intention was not
carried out. During and after the for
midable insurrection OF June of the same
year it was used as hospital for the
wounded. In l649, the yearly exhibition
of paintings. was opened in the Tuileries.
During the reign OF Napoleon Ill. it was
his official residence, and was the scene
of magnificent balls and receptions. A
concert was recently held in the Hall of
the Marshals, under the auspices of the
commune.
The exterior of the palace was grand
and imposing. The extreme length of
the facade was 1856 yards; its breadth Sc
yards. Owing to the different periods at
which it was built, its architecture was
not uniform. All that wealth and taste
could accomplish was employed under sue
ces>ive nonarchs to embellish its interior.
The Emperor's private apartments were
gorgeously decorated. The theatre could
accommodate 800 spectators, and was uSe d
as a supper-room when balls were given
at court The chapel of the palace was
rather plain, and had a gallery and ceiling
resting upon DOric columns of stone and
stucco. The Sale de la Paix was used as
a ballroom, and was 140 feet long by 35
feet broad, and contained splendid statua-
ry. The hall of the niarshals was remark
able for its splendor. The names of the
great battles fought under the first empire
were inscribed on its walls, and around
the hall were busts of distinguished gen.
erals and naval commanders, while por-
traits OF the great marShals of France
its panels. The furniture was Or
with green velvet and gold.-
This was used as ballroom on state oc-
casions. -Four other magnificent halls
We're conspicuous features. The carpets
on them were of Gobelin's manufacture,
and cost S200.0O0 These halls were the
White, the Apollo and the Throne halls:
The Throne Hall, splendid apartment.
contained the imperial throne. The hang
ings were of dark velvet of Lyons manu-
facture, with palm-leaves and wreaths
wrought in gold The throne, facing the
windows, was surmounted by canopy Uf
the same, and the drapery depending from
it was studded with bees embroidered in
gold. A description of the remaining
apartments would simply embrace repe-
tition of decorations of unrivalled ele-
gance, the result OF lavish expenditure.
THE LOUVRE.
The world-famed Louvre was mainly
constructed by Louis XIV, but was left in
comparatively unfinished state until 1902,
when Napoleon resumed the works, and
under him the Louvre was finished and the
surrounding streets and places. cleared
Its internal arrangements were made prin-
cipally by Charles X. and Louis Philippe.
Since the time of Louis XIV. it has been
devoted to the reception of the various
of the fine arts, and was acca-
sionally used for great ceremonies of state.
The eastern front of the Louvre was. one
of the finest pieces of architecture of any
age. The grand colonnade was composed
of twenty-eight coupled Corinthian' col.
umns, fronting q wide gallery The CEN
trail part OF the building forming the gate
way was crowned by pediment, the rak-
ing corniees of which were each of sin
gle piece. This pediment contained bas-
relief executed by Lemot. and over the
grand doorway was another by Cartelier.
The gates. themselves, made by order OF
Napoleon, We're of magniiicently-worked
bronze. This front was 525 feet long and
50 feet high. The southern front, also the
work of Claude Perrault, though not so
bold. was very fine. 1t was decorated
with 40 Corinthian pilasters, and, like the
eastern. had a richly-adorned pediinent
over ths central and two lateral pavilions
protecting from the main body: The
western front presented no special features
of interest.
Almost all the interior of this palace was
dey oted to the museums, for which ii was
80 celebrated. These consisted o. mag