European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 23, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes saturday november 23, 1985 the newly restored Versailles Palace just outside Paris is scheduled to open to the Public next february restoring the splendor of Versailles new York times seven years of labor at the chateau Olve Sailles have restored the former Sale dorot some 50 rooms including Marie Antoinette s dressing room and the room where the children of Louis Xiv played in addition the magnificent ceremonial staircase designed by Gabriel and begun in 1722 but never completed has been built according to the original design. The nearly completed restoration which is scheduled to open to the Public next february was shown to some 100 european and american scholars recently As part of the Versailles colloquium a meeting of International specialists on the Art. Architecture music and gardens of Versailles. Betsy Rosasco. Assistant curator of the Princeton arts museum and one o the speakers said of the restored family apartments they Tell about a whole Side of Versailles that we have read  Guy Walton an associate professor Al new York University and co chairman of the colloquium praised the delicate craftsmanship of the recurved Wood pan Elings. The redo lion is the latest step in returning the chateau and its Petit and grand Tria Nons. Which Are the largest and most sumptuous court setting in Europe to their former splendor. Begun alter world War i and supported a Money from Many americans including John d. Rockefeller the Overall restoration of the vast Versailles Complex now is about three fourths finished according to Pierre Lemoine. Inspector general of the museums of France and Chiel curator of the Palace of Versailles while american support of the restoration has continued since 1978, the French government has spent Over $ 19 million renovating 160 rooms in the main chateau and 20 in the Petit and grand Tria Nons. The new work has concentrated on the living quarters of the palaces Royal tenants. Earlier efforts restored the great formal rooms. The current project concentrates on the 18th Century family rooms of Louis Xiv achieved by eliminating a 19th-Century Public museum installed by King Louis Philippe. To save the then abandoned chateau from demolition Louis Philippe created a museum of enormous paintings depicting the glories of France. In the Petit Rianon the private hideaway of Marie Antoinette and Louis Xvi rooms Are nearly restored. And. Connected to the Hercules Salon in the main chateau a Gigantic staircase has been finished 213 years after it was begun by Jacques Ange Gabriel the architect of the Petit Rianon. Now the theater has been torn out and following Gabriel s original drawings new White Stone Steps and classic balustrades have been built. The staircase finished in late 1984, has been used for some gala events. It will be officially inaugurated next Spring. Lout Philippe Art gallery haunted Lemoine when he joined the curatorial staff in 1948. I thought if would be More interesting Lor the Public to see the family apartments instead to better understand their private  Lemoine said. In 1978. When Gerald Van Der Kemp then the chief curator was supervising the renovation of other rooms he gave the Greer tight to Lemoine s plan. First the minuscule 1632 Hunting Lodge of Louis Xiii. Around which Louis Xiv built the Gigantic chateau was rescued from its Fate As a Dusty storeroom. Its new Marble floor was raised to the level it had been until Louis Philippe lowered it. Artisans were Able to change the Art gallery Back to family apartments because the Wall pan Elings mirrors and doors had been Safe guarded in the chateau s Many storerooms. On a private tour of the nearly completed rooms the other Day the bedroom of Princess Adelaide one of Louis Xiv s four daughters gleamed with delicate Green and peach Wall designs. Newly gilded Mirror frames looked As fresh As they must have when she moved in. In the unfinished Salon a frieze of cherubs was being put up and Gold Leaf was going on the doors Crystal chandeliers Hung from a scaffolding and paintings were stacked like cards on the floor. Lemoine plans to hang portraits of the 18th-Century occupants in the rooms where they lived. Bookcases each Glass door framed in carved Wood line the Library Walls. The Princess s White bedroom had been enriched with Gold Leal on ceiling and Walls. Her brother the Dauphin Louis played in rooms with White or Gray Walls inset with gilded frames now awaiting paintings. A 20-Minufe walk away at the Petit Rianon More work is under Way. Only the downstairs entry Hall Salon dining room and Library have been shown to the Public. When the renovation is Complete six upstairs rooms will also be on View. These Are the Small apartments of Marie Antoinette and Louis Xvi. The Queen olten lied the vast chateau and its staff of 6,000 for the Rural seclusion of the Petit Rianon begun in 1762 and built at a Lake amid Fields where sheep still Graze. From her Blue walled bedroom she could see the miniature rustic Hamlet where she played at farming. Artisans Are hanging mirrors in the rooms and furniture newly covered in Blue silk has just been installed in the dressing room where the Queen was bathed dressed and coiled. The King s suite has been painted Pale Green edged with White. The gilded Frame for his canopied bed awaits the same red silk fabric with chinese designs that the upholsterers were tacking to the Walls. A glimpse of 12 unrest red upstairs rooms shows the scale of the project. Shreds of Green wallpaper hang from the scarred Walls. Exposed nails Are All thai was left of Wall panels smashed or Stolon in the sacking of Versailles in 1789. Lemoine began a treasure Hunt to track Down furniture Lor the Royal apartments. He found Marie Antoinette s bed canopy and billiard table at a new York auction her console and the King s Chest of drawers Al a Paris auction i read auction catalogues irom All Over the  said Lemoine who wears a French legion of Honor ribbon on his Lapel. Sometimes people at auctions know the Lur Niilre is irom Versailles sometimes not we bought her boudoir armchairs from a parisian i had known Lor years they were in his  the Corner cupboards irom the bedroom of Princess Victoire another daughter of Louis Xiv had been Given to a supplier Lor the French army. They turned up in Hamburg. Germany where Catherine the great bought them. The soviet Union sold the pieces to private English buyers and Lemoine spotted them in a Londo auction Catalon. Like any Householder. Lemoine said. The work i never