La Chateau Versailles
In 1669 a quaint hunting lodge a few miles outside of Paris was designated to become one of the grandest, most beautiful, and most elaborate castles that the world has ever seen. The Palace Versailles helped to establish King Louis XIV as a Grand Monarch, and was the rule with which other palaces were measured. The single act of creation on the part of Louis XIV propelled him into the annals of history as not only a great leader and politician, but an accomplished architect as well. Versailles stands today as a testament of the grandeur and audacity of the Baroque period in European history, and its lasting affect on our modern day.La Chateau Versailles was a mammoth work of a cross between classical and baroque styles. Its exterior is decorated in very classical styling, but its sheer magnitude displays its ties to the Baroque period of art and architecture. The style in which it was constructed was surely nothing new to the people of France, what was distinct about it was the size. If Versailles had been 100 meters wide instead of nearly six times that, it would have simply been another chateau. But because of its size the Palace Versailles has become one of the most studied and beloved palaces in the world. It is a singular
I have had opportunity to see many cathedrals inside as well as outside the United States. This was not a new idea in the baroque world. Louis XIV began something that he never could have imagined the consequences of. This distaste eventually caused this beautiful palace to be abandoned and left for ruin because of the French Revolution. The Spirit of Baroque architecture is still alive and well. Truly this once humble hunting lodge has changed the way the world is viewed and has done just as Louis XIV desired, it has given him into fame that he desired. The frescos on the ceiling were not a new idea at all, this having been done in many chapels and cathedrals before hand, but the use of natural light in the nearly 250 ft hall paved the way for the use of natural light in many more buildings through out history. The Baroque idea of bigger and better has not completely or even nearly left the world society. The styles may have changed slightly, but upon viewing the estate of Bill Gates it is hardly in doubt that bigger somehow still indicates better. Its simplistic style and audacious magnitude create such an impression as to make one's jaw drop. The decor of these beautiful buildings is awe inspiring. Versailles truly has given its maker immortality, and the world a standard of architectural measurement for many centuries to come. This particular aspect of the castle not only adds to its beauty but also shows great craftsmanship and attention to the minutest detail. As the architect and builder of the most magnificent building of its age, Louis XIV will not soon be forgotten.
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