Marbles of Versailles Database

This topographic database allows the user to locate the marble architectural elements, fireplaces and columns for example, that adorn the Palace of Versailles and the various buildings in its park and in the grounds of the Trianon.

Described both visually and historically, each object will be linked to the marbles used in its construction, and each marble to the quarry from which it was extracted. Everything will be supported by detailed historical sources and photographs of the work.

This database was initiated as part of an ethnological enquiry entitled “The Marble Decorations at the Palace of Versailles, from quarry to building. Skills of the Marble Masons of the Montagne Noire (Minervois)” led by the Research Centre and the Musée des civilisations de l’Europe et de la Méditerranée.

Database scientific committee

 Bernard Ancer, in charge of General Affairs at the Centre de recherche of the château de Versailles;
 Lionel Arsac, Heritage Curator In the Sculpture department of the château de Versailles;
 Annie Blanc, Engineer Emeritus at the Laboratoire de recherche des monuments historiques, Doctor of Petrography;
 Philippe Blanc, Geologist, Doctor of Petrography;
 Geneviève Bresc-Bautier, Honorary General Curator;
 Pierre-Xavier Hans, Heritage Curator in the department of Furniture and Objets d’art at the château de Versailles;
 Alexandre Maral, General Heritage Curator, Head of the Sculpture department of the château de Versailles;
 Sophie Mouquin, Senior Lecturer in the History of Modern Art at the University Lille 3-Charles-de-Gaulle;
 Sandrine Pallandre, responsible for the Plans section at the château de Versailles ;
 Cyril Pasquier, researcher at the Centre de recherche du château de Versailles;
 Isabelle Pluvieux, responsible for websites and databases at the Centre de recherche du château de Versailles;
 Emmanuel Sarméo, Doctor in History Of Art, 2BDM architectural agency;
 Francis Tourneur, General Secretary of the Pierres et Marbres de Wallonie Association, Head of Education at the Faculté d’architecture de Liège;
 Patrick de Wever, Professor at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.