The Salon de Musique was the
Salon du jeu de la Reine, under Marie Antoinette. The ancient Salon de
Clorinde, or des Dames d' Honneur, is named from its paintings by Dubois
and from the "Gerusalemme Liberata."
The Galerie de Diane, built by Napoleon I. and Louis XVIII., replaces the
famous frescoed gallery of Henri IV. It is now turned into a library for
the use of the town. In the center is a picture of Henri IV. on horseback,
by Mauzaise. The Salles des Chasses contain pictures of hunting scenes
under Louis XV. We now reach the glorious Galerie d' Henri II. (or Salle
des Fetes), built by Francois I., and decorated by Henri II. The walnut-
wood ceiling and the paneling of the walls are of marvelous richness. Over
the chimney is a gigantic H, and the initials of Henri II. are constantly
seen interlaced with those of Diane de Poitiers.... The sixty paintings on
the walls, including eight large compositions, were executed by Niccolo
Dell' Abbate, and are probably the finest decorations of the kind existing
in France.
The rooms usually shown last are those formerly inhabited by Catherine de
Medici and Anne of Austria, and which, under the First Empire, were used
by Pius VII.
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