Editing Palace of Versailles (section)

===The State Apartments of the King===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="170">
File:Paolo Veronese - Le Repas chez Simon le Pharisien - Google Art Project.jpg|''Meal at the House of Simon the Pharisee'' by [[Paolo Veronese|Veronese]] in the [[Salon d'Hercule|Salon of Hercules]]
File:France-000333 - Abundance Salon (14825986264).jpg|Salon of Abundance
File:Salon de Vénus.jpg|Salon of Venus
File:Salon de Mercure, Versailles.jpg|Salon of Mercury
</gallery>

The construction of the Hall of Mirrors between 1678 and 1686 coincided with a major alteration to the State Apartments. They were originally intended as his residence, but the King transformed them into galleries for his finest paintings, and venues for his many receptions for courtiers. During the season from [[All-Saints Day]] in November until [[Easter]], these were usually held three times a week, from six to ten in the evening, with various entertainments.{{Sfn|Saule|2013|page=20}}

====The Salon of Hercules====
This was originally a chapel. It was rebuilt beginning in 1712 under the supervision of the [[First Architect to the King]], [[Robert de Cotte]], to showcase two paintings by [[Paolo Veronese]], ''Eleazar and Rebecca'' and ''Meal at the House of Simon the Pharisee'', which was a gift to Louis XIV from the [[Republic of Venice]] in 1664. The painting on the ceiling, ''The Apotheosis of Hercules'', by [[François Lemoyne]], was completed in 1736, and gave the room its name.{{Sfn|Saule |2013 |page=20}}{{sfn|Pérouse de Montclos|1991|pages=262–264}}

====The Salon of Abundance====
The Salon of Abundance was the antechamber to the Cabinet of Curios (now the Games Room), which displayed Louis XIV's collection of precious jewels and rare objects. Some of the objects in the collection are depicted in [[René-Antoine Houasse]]'s painting ''Abundance and Liberality'' (1683), located on the ceiling over the door opposite the windows.

====The Salon of Venus====
This salon was used for serving light meals during evening receptions. The principal feature in this room is [[Jean Warin]]'s life-size statue of Louis XIV in the costume of a Roman emperor. On the ceiling in a gilded oval frame is another painting by Houasse, ''Venus subjugating the Gods and Powers'' (1672–1681). ''[[Trompe-l'œil]]'' paintings and sculpture around the ceiling illustrate mythological themes.{{Sfn|Saule|2013|page=22}}

====The Salon of Mercury====
The Salon of Mercury was the original State Bedchamber when Louis XIV officially moved the court and government to the palace in 1682. The bed is a replica of the original commissioned by King [[Louis-Philippe]] in the 19th century when he turned the palace into a museum. The ceiling paintings by the Flemish artist [[Jean Baptiste de Champaigne]] depict the god [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]] in his chariot, drawn by a rooster, and [[Alexander the Great]] and [[Ptolemy]] surrounded by scholars and philosophers. The Automaton Clock was made for the King by the royal clockmaker Antoine Morand in 1706. When it chimes the hour, figures of Louis XIV and Fame descend from a cloud.{{Sfn|Saule|2013|page=25}}

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File:Chateau de Versailles, France (8132698654).jpg|Salon of Mars
File:Plafond-Salon d'Apollon-Versailles.jpg|Ceiling in the Salon of Apollo, depicting the Sun Chariot of [[Apollo]]
File:Château de Versailles, salon de Diane, buste de Louis XIV, Bernin (1665) 00.jpg|[[Bust of Louis XIV (Bernini)|Bust of Louis XIV by Bernini]] in the Salon of Diana
</gallery>

====The Salon of Mars====
The Salon of Mars was used by the royal guards until 1782, and was decorated on a military theme with helmets and trophies. It was turned into a concert room between 1684 and 1750, with galleries for musicians on either side. Portraits of [[Louis XV]] and his Queen, [[Marie Leszczyńska]], by the Flemish artist [[Carle Van Loo]] decorate the room today.

====The Salon of Apollo====
The Salon of Apollo was the royal throne room under Louis XIV, and was the setting for formal audiences. The eight-foot-high silver throne was melted down in 1689 to help pay the costs of an expensive war, and was replaced by a more modest throne of gilded wood. The central painting on the ceiling, by [[Charles de la Fosse]], depicts the Sun Chariot of [[Apollo]], the King's favourite emblem, pulled by four horses and surrounded by the four seasons.

====The Salon of Diana====
The Salon of Diana was used by Louis XIV as a billiards room, and had galleries from which courtiers could watch him play. The decoration of the walls and ceiling depicts scenes from the life of the goddess [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]]. The celebrated [[Bust of Louis XIV (Bernini)|bust of Louis XIV by Bernini]] made during the famous sculptor's visit to France in 1665 is on display here.{{Sfn|Saule|2013|page=23}}