Linderhof Palace: Audience room

The design (1870/71) is by Christian Jank (ceiling design) and Georg Dollmann (wall designs). Both had to follow a model specified by Ludwig II, the design by J. A. Meissonier (1695-1750) for a cabinet for Princess Sartorinski, illustrated in his "Oeuvres d’architecture", Paris 1736. Ludwig II had this work in his library.

The rocaille-framed ceiling mirror originates from another model used by Christian Jank (1833-1888): a ceiling in the Hôtel Soubise in Paris. Ludwig II had visited this in 1867 and later incorporated citations from it into his small apartment in the Herrenchiemsee New Palace (Neues Schloss Herrenchiemsee). He attached particular importance to the audience room, which is expressed in unusually clear references to Bavarian royalty in the stucco lunette: the figure of "Bavaria" is depicted above the throne canopy. The Bavarian coat of arms, held by Fama figures, crowns both doors, and the "L", here really referring to Ludwig II, appears on the window wall opposite the throne canopy. The Bavarian coat of arms in needle painting also forms the central motif of the throne canopy designed by Franz Seitz (1817-1883).

Carved and gilded emblems by Philipp Perron (1840-1907) are inserted into the cornice: "Science and Art", "Trade and Commerce", "Secular Rule" and "Spiritual Rule", symbols of Ludwig II’s reign. The lunette images evoke the absolutist royalty of the Bourbons.

Uwe Gerd Schatz