Plans of the Ground and First Floors of the Chateau of Marly 1764

Drawn by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, this delicate plan visualizes the layout of the Chateau de Marly. The most striking motif here is the octagon, the form of its central hall and the corner towers in the secondary plans. The octagon has long been a potent symbol. Think back to the baptisteries of early Christianity, like the Lateran Baptistery in Rome. Their octagonal shapes symbolized rebirth and resurrection, a reference to the eighth day following the Sabbath. The Chateau de Marly was a place of retreat for Louis XIV, a space of renewal away from the rigid formalism of Versailles. This conscious return to the ancient symbol perhaps suggests a deeper desire for rebirth, hinting at the timeless human quest for change and regeneration. The subconscious mind is always at play, weaving old symbols into new tapestries. This is not merely a floor plan, but a potent echo of cultural memory.