Interieur van een kabinet in het paleis van Versailles c. 1860 - 1880

This stereoscopic image of a cabinet in the Palace of Versailles was created by Ernest Eléonor Pierre Lamy in the late 19th century. It captures a moment in the life of a building that has itself played a central role in the construction of French national identity. Versailles was the seat of royal power from 1682, under Louis XIV, until the French Revolution in 1789. Today, as a museum, Versailles reflects both its royal past and its more recent history as a public space. This image is a relatively early example of the photographic documentation of art and architecture, a practice which has since transformed the way we experience the museum. The photograph invites us to consider how Versailles became a symbol of French culture, both before and after the Revolution. Further research into the archives of the Palace and its photographic history might reveal more about the evolving role of this national institution.