Work Progress at Herrenchiemsee Palace – Grand Staircase

 Work Progress at Herrenchiemsee Palace – Grand Staircase

Work on the staircase had already begun in 1880¹, but construction proceeded in full only in 1882, when scaffolding was erected in February 1882². In April 1882, the staircase received its rough plastering. In July 1882, stucco workers began working on the staircase³. The stucco work was carried out by the Detoma company, which calculated the costs at 176,821.88 marks⁴.

It is certain that Perron worked on the figurative parts of the staircase (figures on the cornice, statues in the niches, and the fountain) from 1883⁵. In April 1884, the segmental arch above the main figurative group on the cornice was completed⁶. At the end of April or the beginning of May 1884, work on the stucco marble (the walls) began⁷.

In May, the central figurative group had already been completed, as it was being moved during this period⁸. In August 1884, the stucco marble was polished and thereby finished⁹. In the same month, one of the niche statues¹⁰ was installed, from which we may infer that the other statues were probably also installed around this time.

In August 1885, the stucco work in the lower parts of the walls was completed, which likely marked the completion of the stucco decoration¹¹. The paintings in the staircase were probably finished sometime in summer 1885 or autumn 1885, since they were invoiced on 21 January 1886¹²; however, an earlier estimate stated that they were to be completed by June 1885¹³. All 20 paintings in the staircase were executed by Ludwig Lesker.

The fountain was produced sometime in 1885, as it appears in the cost estimates for that year prepared in February 1884¹⁴. This estimate came from the court marble supplier Pfister. We also have a letter from 29 April 1885 from Pfister concerning the fountain for the staircase, which indicates that it was probably already in production. Therefore, during the king’s last visit—from 29 September to 10 October—the fountain was likely already in place.

The chandeliers were paid for in 1886¹⁵, although it is possible that they were already installed during the king’s final visit. Many items—especially toward the end of the king’s reign—were paid for only some time after they had been installed because of the king’s debts. In addition, works were often prepared so that they would be completed for a specific royal visit in a given year, and the staircase was intended to be finished for the visit in 1885¹⁶.

The fact that the chandeliers were paid for retrospectively is also suggested by the fact that they were invoiced separately¹⁷, probably due to the financial crisis.

Grand Staircase

Photograph from the book by Philipp Perron, Die figurale Plastik des königlichen Schlosses Herrenchiemsee, in which all works carried out by Perron for Herrenchiemsee Palace are documented.



¹ Schmidt an Dollmann, 25.9.80: „[…] Am Südflügel beginnt das Verputzen der Freitreppe […].“
(… In the south wing the plastering of the grand staircase begins …)

² Schmidt an Dollmann, 21.2.82: „[…] Zimmerleute rüsten das Treppenhaus des Südflügels ein […].“
(… Carpenters are erecting scaffolding in the staircase hall of the south wing …)

³ Schmidt an Dollmann, 29.7.82: „[…] Stukkateure im Salle d. Gardes fertig – jetzt im südlichen Treppenhaus […] im Œil d. B. werden die Panneaux vergoldet […] Schreiner [haben] sämtliche vorhandene Wandfüllungen aufgestellt […].“
(… Stucco workers finished in the Salle des Gardes – now working in the southern staircase … in the Œil-de-Bœuf the panels are being gilded … the carpenters have installed all existing wall panels …)

⁴ Kostenanschlag der Fa. Detoma vom 1. 8. 1882: „[…] für das südl. Treppenhaus, 176.821,88 ML.“
(… for the southern staircase, 176,821.88 marks …)

⁵ Forts. voriger Aufstellung Perrons: „[…] Stiegenhaus, gef.[-ertigte] Arbeiten 1883.“
(… Staircase, completed works 1883 …)

⁶ Rapport von Schuster an Dollmann vom 21.4.84 über die Zeit vom 7.–19. April: „[…] Stuckarbeiten: Segmentsbogen für die mittlere Figurengruppe über dem Hauptgesims im südlichen Treppenhaus […] Bildh. [arbeiten an] Ergänzungen am Plafond im Speisezimmer […].“
(… Stucco works: segmental arch for the central figure group above the main cornice in the southern staircase … sculptors working on additions to the ceiling in the dining room …)

⁷ Rapport von Schuster an Dollmann über die Zeit vom 20.4. bis 3.5.84: „[…] Stuckmarmorauftrag im Treppenhaus […] Versetzen der mittleren Fig.-Gruppe […] Modellieren des Modells f. d. Alkoven im Schlafzimmer (2 Bildhauer) […] Malen des Plafonds im Waschkabinett (Widnmann) […].“
(… application of stucco marble in the staircase … installation of the central figure group … modelling of the model for the alcove in the bedroom (2 sculptors) … painting of the ceiling in the wash cabinet (Widnmann) …)

⁸Rapport von Schuster an Dollmann über die Zeit vom 4. bis 17.5.84: „[…] Verlegen des Parketts im Speisezimmer […] Versetzen der mittleren Figurengruppe im Treppenhaus […] Plafond im Waschkabinett [von Widnmann] gemalt […] Aufzeichnen der Bilder im Speisesaal v. Grundherr […].“
(… laying of the parquet floor in the dining room … installation of the central figure group in the staircase … ceiling in the wash cabinet painted by Widnmann … outlining of the paintings in the dining hall by Grundherr …)

⁹Rapport von Schuster an Dollmann über die Zeit bis 12.8.84: „[…] Schleifen des Marmors im Treppenhaus und Verputzen der Vorhalle […] Aufstellen einer Nischenfigur im südlichen Treppenhaus […] Vergolden der Wandverzierung in allen neuen Sälen (11 Vergolder) […] Malereien: […] Hauschild in der Galerie fertig […] Munsch und Rögge im kl. Ovalsalon […].“
(… polishing of the marble in the staircase and plastering of the vestibule … installation of a niche figure in the southern staircase … gilding of the wall decoration in all new halls (11 gilders) … paintings: Hauschild finished in the gallery … Munsch and Rögge in the small oval salon …)

¹⁰Rapport von Schuster an Dollmann über die Zeit bis 12.8.84: „[…] Aufstellen einer Nischenfigur im südlichen Treppenhaus […].“
(… installation of a niche statue in the southern staircase …)

¹¹„Detoma, Stuck und Scagliola“, Rechnung für 1885 über ausgeführte Arbeiten:
„[…] März: Decken der kl. Galerie und Ecksalons – 17.081,33 M.
Juli: Wände der kl. Galerie – 39.906,44 M.
August: Ovalsalon – 4.133 M.
unterer Theil d. Wände i. d. Festtreppe – 36.935 M.
Oktober: Blauer Salon, Bad und Arcotreppe – 13.080,67 M.
Summe: 111.136,79 M.“
(… March: ceilings of the small gallery and corner salons … July: walls of the small gallery … August: oval salon … lower part of the walls of the grand staircase … October: Blue Salon, bath and Arco staircase … total: 111,136.79 marks …)

¹²Schreiben von „Lesker, Ludwig, Maler […]“ vom 21.1.1886 an Hofmann: „20 Wandgemälde im Treppenhaus […] um die Summe von 35.000 M.“
(… 20 wall paintings in the staircase … for the sum of 35,000 marks …)

¹³Kostenvoranschlag dazu: „[…] für die Bemalung der 8 großen Wandgemälde sowie der 12 Felder am Hauptgesimse […] bis Ende Juni 85 […] 3.500 Mk.“
(… for the painting of the 8 large wall paintings as well as the 12 panels on the main cornice … to be completed by the end of June 1885 … 3,500 marks …)

¹⁴ Gebr. Pfister, Marmor-, Granit-Industrie, Hoflieferant – Februar 1884 „Recapitulation“:
„1884: Tischpl. Arbeitszimmer 169,78
Werkstücke f. Steinstufen 778,20
1885: Voranschläge: Thürgewände, Bodenbelag, Kamine, Bassin – 1.600 […] Brunnenschale – 3.000 […].“
(… 1884: table top for the study … stone pieces for the stone steps … 1885: estimates for door frames, flooring, fireplaces, basin … fountain bowl – 3,000 …)

¹⁵ Gebr. Pfister, Marmor-, Granit-Industrie, Hoflieferant – Brief vom 29.4.1885, betr. Brunnenschale im Treppenhaus.
(Letter of 29 April 1885 concerning the fountain bowl in the staircase.)

¹⁶ „Während der Restaurierung konnte Einblick in die Herstellung der beiden Lüster genommen werden, die 1886 – im Todesjahr von Ludwig II. – als letzte geliefert wurden.“
(During the restoration it was possible to gain insight into the production of the two chandeliers, which were delivered in 1886 – the year of the death of Ludwig II. – as the final items.)

https://schloesserblog.bayern.de/geheimnisse/moebel-der-luefte-zwei-kronleuchter-aus-dem-prunktreppenhaus-im-neuen-schloss-herrenchiemsee-unter-die-lupe-genommen

¹⁷ „Aus dem Kabinettskassenbuch für das Jahr 1886 geht hervor, dass zunächst nur ein Lüster für das Treppenhaus geliefert wurde. Es wurde jedoch noch ein weiterer, in Beschreibung und Preis übereinstimmender Lüster nachgeliefert, der gesondert in Rechnung gestellt wurde.“
(From the cabinet treasury account book for the year 1886 it emerges that initially only one chandelier for the staircase was delivered. However, another chandelier matching it in description and price was subsequently supplied and invoiced separately.)

https://schloesserblog.bayern.de/geheimnisse/moebel-der-luefte-zwei-kronleuchter-aus-dem-prunktreppenhaus-im-neuen-schloss-herrenchiemsee-unter-die-lupe-genommen

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