The Golden Cabinet

This is the largest of the Queen's interior rooms and served different purposes for each Queen. Originally it was created for Marie Leszczinska. It was redecorated in 1783.
Marie Antoinette used it to entertain her friends and later on to play with her children. She would also receive her music lessons here with her music teacher Gréty and would pose for Madame Vigée-Lebrun. Today her harp is still standing in the room and is one of the most beautiful pieces in the room.

The very time shines through in the decorations used in this room. At this time the remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum had just been discovered which resulted in a wave of inspiration of the Antiquity. In this room this is evident by the sphinxes and tripods used as decorations. The furniture of this room almost all belonged to Marie Antoinette and has been brought to Versailles from other royal châteaux. It was known as the "Gilded Study" due to the amount of golden varnish and gold leafs used to decorate it. Tests have shown that the painting from the panel next to the chimney dates back from the 1750's. The woodwork has been transferred from the apartment of Marie-Josèphe of Saxony and was moved into the room on the request of Marie Antoinette.