Roman Salon

The painted textile wall covering in the Roman Salon dates from the middle of the 18th century. Its principal motifs are illusionistic busts of Roman emperors. These alternate with scenes of hunting, seafaring and elegant social encounters. The busts belong to the painting itself: they are not separate sculptures attached to the wall.

The furniture includes a seating ensemble with Rococo and Neoclassical features. Its chair and armchair upholstery was made using hand-worked tapestry needlepoint. Wall decoration and furniture thus use fabric in two distinct ways, as a surface for painting and as a ground for embroidery. Look along the walls to follow the changing subjects: an imperial bust gives way to a scene of people hunting, travelling by sea or meeting socially.