The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1906-06-01
PALACE At MADRID
MANSION WHERE KING ALFONZO
AND BRIDE WILL RESIDE.
Lavlshly Prepared With Richest Art
Treasures-The Palace Is One Of the
Largest In Europe-Royal Throne a
Superb Affair - Queens Wedding
Gown a Rich Piece of Finery.

Madrid. May 3O.-The royal palace
of Madrid is doubly interesting just
now. both as the place from which
Alfonso went to meet his bride and
as the future home of the royal couple.
The suite of apartments designed TOT
the future queen have been most law
ishly prepared with richest art treas
ures. But aside from this the palace
Itself Is one of the largest and most
sumptuous of Europe. II is built on
the former site of Alcazar, home OF
the ancient kings, from plans by the
Italian artist, Giovanni Bettirta Sac
chetti. The first stone was laid in
1898. and &c years afterward Charles
Ill. took possession of the edifce and
began the decoration Of the interior.
me expenditure amounted to 10000,
90 rails.
The massive structure is of granite
throughout, except the frames of the
doors and windows, which are Of mar
BILE.
The entrance to the royal palace,
which is conceded to be n of the
most magnificent in the world, has
been further enriched for the present
occasion. 1t is gorgeOusly carpeted
and ornamented, illuminated day and
night by myriads Of electric lights
concealed within the rich gold corn
ices, with halberdiers in their brilliant
uniforms acting as guards. AT the
first landing serving as pillars to the
balustrade there are two enormous
lions of stone, the work Of Sculptors
Castro and Michel,
II Is well known that Napoleon l..
had q Jealous regard for these lions on
the day he admired the palace, re-
marking to his brother That they were
better housed than he himself in
Paris.
The high vaulted ceiling contains
Notable paintings by the NeapOlitan
artist, Carado Gisquinto. The Sale
des Ambassadors, where the impo-
sing reception will take place after
the wedding, is II of the most splen-
did apartments of the palace, with
furnishings of i~ncalculable value. The
walls are hung with crimson velvet
and gilt ornaments. The enormous
mirrors, which came from the royal
factory of La Granja, are surrounded
by heavy gold frames OF the time of
Charles ~, while intervening statutes
of bronze and marble represent heroes,
pagan gods and ailegorical figures. On
each side of the throne statues of
Prudence and Justice are represented
as the councillors of kings.
The royal throne is under a superb
red canopy situated above the steps
richly %carpeted in the same color. At
either side stand four gilt lions, rep
resented as controlling the world. The
forms a brilliant contrast,
being clear and luminous. 1t was ex-
ecuted by a famous Venetian painter,
and is said to be one of the most fin
ished decorative works in the world.
The idea developed in this vast com
position is The glory of the Spanish
monarchy" represented by a proud
matron seated on a throne and attend
ed by allegorical deities. The imagi-
nation of some recent visitors to this
gorgeous apartment has led to the re-
port that Princess Ena greatly resem-
bles the matron seated on a throne.
Many of the salons are decorated
with rich embroidered cloths and the
luxurious furniture and ceiling were
painted by Manages, Balyen, V~elasquez,
Vicente Lopez and Juan Rivera.
Princess Ena is said to take special
interest In the china hall. so called,
not because the royal china is kept
there, but because the ceiling and
walls are covered with porcelain, the
of which is ~cleverly concealed
by figures in pOlychrome relief. An
other sumptuous salon is the large
hall, decorated with tapestry
owe in gold and silver by Panne-
maker in Brussels for Philip II.
Besides the foregoing main apart
there are many others of great
richness. Some of them contain the
collection Of old clocks; others,
including the chapel, contain most In
teresting relics of the old Christian
era.
Ena's Wedding Gown a Creation.
The wedding dress of Princess Ena
has attracted great interest in Spain,
RS IT is truly a Spanish product in
finish. except TO- wonderful
Brussels lace, which ha IN bought
adorn 1t. 1t was a fancy + the king
and the queen mother that the wed
ling dress should be made in Spain.
and the princess graciously fell in with
his patriotic sentiment. The dress is
therefore n of the special presents
rom the king, and is a marvel of ele-
sance. The silk was manufactured
rom a special pattern in one of the
arge Spanish silk establishments. II
vas made up with all the artistic skill
If the court dressmakers. The silk is
heavily overlaid with wonderful silver
Embroidery with soft frills of the
inest Brussels lace, said to have cost
80 a yard. The laces were publicly
Exhibited before being put on the dress
aNpfFnA NhA Ala.a--.H 1