Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-27
Ludwig. Gallery of mirrors.
From a Munich Letter TO the London Daily
NenS.

From a Munich Letter TO the London Ddjly
NeWS.
The front of the middle building of the
palace built by the late King Ludwig in imi-
tation of Versailles with its twenty-five win
dows below, opening upon narrow balcony,
and its twenty-five windows above, is entire
ly taken up by the large gallery OF mirrors
which is flanked by two halls having six win
dows at the side, that are separated from the
gallery by high columns only. That the hui
man mind should have conceived a hall of
such dimensions seems well nigh Incredible
even to those who have paced to and fro in IT,
Notwithstanding the enormous space it does
not look empty or desolate. The ceiling is
arched, and the paintings, which commence
on the walls gradually pass to the CELL
Ing, whore pictures In rich harmonious
Colors alternate with bronze reliefs of a
pale green color, both framed in rich orna-
ments OF gold. Opposite the twenty-five
windows are as many mirrors, and the space
betweenlwindOws and mirrors is taken up by
tall gilt metal candestcks eight feet high.
In front of every mirror ana in front of every
window stands an antique vase oil silver five
feet high, and beneath it a canopy in carved
wood gilt, covered with blue velvet upon
which hyc rows OF gold embroidered lilies an
inch high produce a marvellous effect I'M
aglne all this repeated forty -four times over
and add to II the wealth of co,or in the paint
ings on wall and ceiling. from which more
over descend three rows of candelabra of qilt
bronze, with hity candles each. In eight
inches stand white marble copies OF the
noblest works of classic art, the Venus
OF MILO reduced TO natural size,
the Medlcis, Diana and Niobe.
Or columns of malachite are placed
Dusts OF the French Generals of the seven
teenth century, no heed being taken that their
victories sgnihed as many defeats for the
country whose King has placed them in his
gallery. The suhects of the pictures all treat
OF the lie Of Louis XIV. His great and small
deeds are immOrtaliZed by the brush of the
painter, and 1t is u wonder that tue Kings
self-immolatlon did not 90 so far "a TO picture
even the devastation OF the Paldtiuatc While
gazing on high | was afraid my eve would
meet the Castle Of Heidelberg, as IL is being
destroyed by the French scourge, which near
Is reduced II to ashes. AT either end of the
hall the pictorial art on the ceiling passes over
painted ana half modeled: a scherzo which is
copied from the French Renaissance in ITS
les desirable forms. The rooms at either
ehd OF the gallery Of mirrors
contain marble chimneys, one surmouut-
Ell by colossal marble relief, the other
by painted portrait OF LOUIS QuatorEe. That
famous Kings most autOcratiC opinions,
have been held in high esteem by the Baya-
rlan Louie, FOR there are idealized portraits OF
the french King with inscriptions below,
such as "L'ctat c'est moi! lie roi gouverne
par III meme !" words which at Herrenchiem-
see ~ cost me no little effort to believe King
Louis repeated while he gazcd az his portly
form IN one OF the thousand mirrors there
Beiore leaving the gallery will add few
heures Whicn Will prove that my astoniah-
mcnt Is baeed upon sound foundations. The
ha Is $50 BavAran feet long. 80 feet broad,
and 20 feet high. IL takes $500 wax candles
TO lght u, The floor IA OF light brown rose
wood, lnlald with DARK laurel wreaths and
the lily OF France; the windows are hung
wnite blinds.