Restoration of Marie-Antoinette's Belvédère at Versailles

Standing in the grounds of the Petit Trianon, the Belvédère is an octagonal pavilion overlooking the lake in the Jardin anglais. Built by Richard Mique in 1777, this folly perfectly illustrates the eighteenth-century taste for picturesque compositions combining planting and architecture. Used by the Queen as a music room, the Belvédère shares a classical decorative scheme with the Temple de l'Amour. The balance of its proportions, the refinement of its sculpture and the richness of its white stucco decoration, set off by arabesque and floral motifs, are complemented by a floor of polychrome marble. Below it stands the Rocher, a wholly artificial structure designed and conceived by the painter Hubert Robert, which forms its counterpart through its contrasting aesthetic.

The restoration of the pavilion's exterior focuses mainly on the ashlar stonework, the balustrade, the sphinx figures flanking each flight of steps up to the entrance terrace, and the lead roofing of the dome. The restoration of the interiors will first cover all of the interior decoration, including the paintwork on stucco marble, the painted decoration on plaster renders and woodwork, as well as the joinery, metalwork, bronzework and marblework. Consolidation and restoration work on the Rocher is also planned. The cost of the works is estimated at €1 million. The work has been entrusted to Vinci and the World Monuments Fund.