Editing Palace of Versailles (section)

===Ambassador's Staircase===
[[File:Chateau de Versailles Model of the Escalier des Ambassadeurs 03.jpg|thumb|left|Model of the former Ambassador's Staircase]]

The {{ill|Ambassadors' Staircase|fr|Escalier des Ambassadeurs}} (''Escalier des Ambassadeurs'') was an [[imperial staircase]] built from 1674 to 1680 by [[François d'Orbay]]. Until Louis XV had it demolished in 1752 to create a courtyard for his private apartments,{{sfn|Berger|1985|p=32}} the staircase was the primary entrance into the Palace of Versailles and the royal apartments especially.{{sfn|Yerkes|2015|p=51}} It was entered from the [[cour d'honneur|courtyard]] via a [[Vestibule (architecture)|vestibule]] that, cramped and dark, contrasted greatly with the tall, open space of the staircase – famously lit naturally with a [[skylight]] – so as to overawe visitors.{{sfn|Berger|1985|pp=32–33}}{{sfn|Yerkes|2015|pp=67, 69}}

The staircase and walls of the room that contained it were clad in [[polychrome]] marble and [[gilded]] bronze,{{sfn|Versailles 3D: 1752}} with decor in the Ionic order.{{sfn|Yerkes|2015|p=72}} [[Charles Le Brun]] painted the walls and ceiling of the room according to a festive theme to celebrate Louis XIV's victory in the [[Franco-Dutch War]].{{sfn|Berger|1985|pp=32–36}} On the wall immediately above the staircase were ''[[trompe-l'œil]]'' paintings of people from the [[Four Parts of the World]] looking into the staircase over a balustrade, a motif repeated on the ceiling fresco.{{sfn|Yerkes|2015|pp=72–73}}{{sfn|Berger|1985|p=36}} There they were joined by allegorical figures for the twelve months of the year and various Classical Greek figures such as the [[Muses]].{{sfn|Berger|1985|pp=35–36}} A marble bust of Louis XIV, sculpted by [[Jean Warin]] in 1665–66,{{sfn|Berger|1994|p=7}} was placed in a [[Niche (architecture)|niche]] above the first landing of the staircase.{{sfn|Versailles 3D: 1752}}