Interior view

In the first half of the eighteenth century, interior decoration of apartments in Paris was a considerable part of architecture, resulting in the neglect of exterior decoration. Private residences and public buildings displayed conventionalised exteriors: rusticated quoin-work, windows with decorative keystones, slightly curving forms. Interior decoration, in contrast, underwent rapid change imposed by the tyranny of fashion.

The fashion accentuated the role of furniture and objects. Colour and light reigned. Wainscoting was often painted in light green, so fashionable in mid-century. Subsequently, white and gold came increasingly into favour, as seen in the princess’s apartment (Salon Ovale de la Princesse) at the H�tel de Soubise (designed by Boffrand).

In 1732, the prince de Rohan was married and he decided to give a fresh, modern decorative appearance to the residence, built a quarter of a century earlier by Pierre-Alexis Delamair. He commissioned Germain Boffrand to design a new room, which became known as the Salon Ovale de la Princesse.

The photo shows the decoration in the Salon Ovale de la Princesse. Its elegance stems from the alternation of rounded panels with mirrors, topped by eight canvases by Charles-Joseph Natoire (The Story of Psyche) set in curvilinear frames. The walls are crowned by an undulating, carved and gilded cornice tied to the vault ribbing, creating a feast for the senses and a masterpiece of Rococo taste.