The Ornamented Being
Ornamented: -verb: Adorn; beautify
Be·ing: -noun: Fulfillment of possibilities; essential completeness
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Marie-Antoinette’s appartment in the castle of Fontainebleau.
Be still my heart.
“The bed was ordered by and designed for the Queen, but delivered after the French Revolution, and used at first by Empress Josephine.”
“The Queen’s Gambling room, part of her state rooms, furnished as it was in 1788 .”
“Some details of one of the chest of drawers, by Benneman”
“The Queen’s Gaming room was also used as an Audience room for Empress Marie-Louise.”
“The Queen’s Boudoir, part of her private rooms ; please note how right the color and design of the furnitures match the ones of the panelling”
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c. 1590-1600
V&A
“his bed is in the typical style of carved wooden beds of the 1590s but it is remarkable for its large size. It is over 326 centimetres wide. The height was slightly reduced in the 19th century. The human figures carved on the headboard would originally have been brightly painted.
Places
The bed was probably made as a curiosity to attract customers to one of the inns at Ware, Hertfordshire. Ware is 22 miles from London, then a day’s journey on horseback or by coach. The town had many inns in the 1590s.
Historical Associations
The bed has been famous since it was made. William Shakespeare mentioned it in his play Twelfth Night, first performed in 1601. The contemporary playwright Ben Jonson called it ‘the great bed at Ware’ in a play in 1609. Visitors often carved their initials on the bed or applied red wax seals, which are still visible on the bedposts and headboard today.”
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“Fontainebleau was a favorite retreat for Napoleon. The furniture had been either destroyed or sold during the Revolution. Napoleon had the palace restored and refurbished. The furniture for the 600 rooms was either taken out of storage or ordered from cabinet-makers such as Jacob-Desmalter. In 1808, the king’s bedroom was altered into the throne room designed by Percier and Fontaine. The “Grand salon” and the Empress’s bedroom were also decorated in the Empire style. Napoleon’s suite was entirely remodelled and is the most spectacular Empire room. Pope Pius VII was held prisoner at Fontainebleau between 1812 and 1814. Napoleon spent his last days in the château before abdicating on April 6, 1814. Granted sovereignty over the island of Elba and a pension from the French government, Napoleon Bonaparte left Fontainebleau after his famous farewell speach on April 20th, 1814.”
Chambre de Napoleon, Palais de Fontainebleau
