Finally, pictures of the inside of the Musée Condé!

(Maybe it's not a bad idea to take a peek at this first, although it's not totally correct, it'll give you some context: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Chantilly)

Gallerie des Cerfs, which used to be the grand dining room, and now houses an exhibition on Henry IV.











Gallerie de Peinture, the large painting gallery. Note that the only light is coming from the giant window on the ceiling--the chateau was rebuilt in the 19th century to house the art collection.










The French side of the gallery (other side is Italian, plus Nicholas Poussin).












Cabinet des Livres, aka the library which holds maybe 1/4th of the entire collection. On display are a number of illuminated manuscripts and books which reference regicide (an exhibit which goes with the one on Henry IV).









And now, your very own private tour of the Grand Apartments!

Room #1 La Salle du Guard, Guard Room. Military mementos from various owners of the Chateau, as well as a painting of one of the most celebrated princes of Condé, Louis II of Bourbon, "le Grand Condé." Very wealthy, very powerful, very successful military general, and a cousin of Louis XIV. And yet, despite it all, really ugly.












On the door, the symbol for Henry of Orleans, the last owner of the chateau, who was responsible for rebuilding the grand chateau after it was destroyed during the Revolution, and for redecorating the small chateau when it was sacked.














Room #2 La Chambre de M. le Prince. So, originally the bedroom, which now doesn't even have a bed. It was redecorated post-Rev, and it was redecorated to be put on show, instead of to be lived in (the small, private apartments were more comfortable). The piece in the back belonged to Louis XIV at Versailles, and the paintings are by Christophe Huet, 1737.






Room #4 Le Grand Singerie (Large Monkey Room). These were actually all the rage in the 18th century, because of all the exploration of and trade with the Orient, and there used to be dozens, but most were destroyed or redecorated. Also Huet, 1735.








There are 12 different scenes (6 large, 6 smaller) which are all allegories (albeit, loose ones...) of activities, arts or sciences.
















#5, Battle Gallery, which was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Near the end of the Grand Condé's life, (end 17th century) he felt as though his military exploits hadn't been properly appreciated, so he commissioned 11 paintings to commemorate his greatest victories.








"Le Repentir," The Repentance of the Grand Condé. Huge allegory of repentance (commissioned by his son after his death)... The question is... What for? Oh right, for those years he spent leading a revolt against the regent Mazarin, when Louis XIV was too young to rule. The interesting thing is that a. he never actually repented for what he did and b. he was pardoned and eventually returned to military service. It's good to be powerful!




A map desk, very useful piece of furniture... Also, one of the very first neoclassical pieces, made soon after the discovery of Pompeii in the mid 18th century. See the columns for legs and the Greek geometric design? It's really an evolutionary link, if you will, smack between two styles... Which is why it looks so odd.







Room #6, the Music Room (although it was never used for music but as a "Curiosity Museum"). Portrait of le Duc de Bourbon, the last Prince of Condé. He ruled from about 1770 until 1830, although he spent about 25 years exiled in England during the Rev. When he died in 1830, the entire domain passed to his grand nephew, Henry of Orleans, le Duc d'Aumale, son of Louis-Philippe Roi des Français, who was 8 years old.










Down the service staircase... Mind you don't break your neck... Actually, it's the castle's natural booby trap: steep, twisty stairs, a low ceiling, and loose tiles to top it off. We're so going to get sued one of these days...









Room #7, the Duban Gallery. Basically a glorified hallway made to connect the small apartments.












It's decorated with the coats of arms of all the families that have owned the chateau over the last 1,100 years (Bouteillers de Senlis, Orgemont, Montmorency, Bourbon, Orleans). Here's the Orleans crest, which is basically the royal crest, but with something added to show that they're a different branch of the same family.












I hope you enjoyed your tour... :) If you have questions, ask me! I like babbling on about the history of the place :)