The Apotheosis of Hercules: A Restored Masterpiece at Versailles

An artistic and technical feat

Between 1733 and 1736, François Lemoyne worked on The Apotheosis of Hercules, a painted ceiling on canvas for the Marble Salon at the Palace of Versailles. This exceptional composition, the largest in Europe, depicts Hercules, victorious over vice and monsters, ascending to Olympus on a chariot pulled by the Genii of Virtue. Around him, Juno, Jupiter, Hebe, the Muses, and Apollo form a divine assembly of 142 figures.

The skill of this composition, the freshness of its colors, and the technical feat it represented earned Lemoyne the title of Premier peintre du Roi (First Painter to the King) from Louis XV on September 26, 1736. However, exhausted by this colossal effort, the artist took his own life just a few months after completing this masterpiece.

A Work Marked by Time and Celebrations

As early as January 26, 1739, a grand masked ball, illuminated by 24,000 candles, was held in the Marble Salon. The repeated celebrations and ceremonies over the years gradually caused the ceiling’s deterioration. Despite several restorations as early as the 18th century, the work required a major intervention.

For two years, thirteen restorers worked at a height of 15 meters to clean the painting, dulled by time and successive layers of varnish, while preserving its historical patina.

“A painting that is three centuries old ages: some colors fade, others darken. There are cracks. We must work with these transformations…”

— Testimony from a restorer

BNP Paribas, Patron for the Preservation of Versailles

BNP Paribas’ commitment to the Palace of Versailles dates back to 1994, at the initiative of Anne de Lacretelle, then in charge of Patronage. After funding the restoration of The Feast in the House of Simon by Veronese, BNP extended its support by contributing to the restoration of the ceiling in the Salon of Hercules, which houses this major work.

The ceiling’s restoration was one of the projects undertaken by BNP through its “BNP pour l’Art” program (1994–2017), dedicated to the restoration or promotion of major works of art. The restoration continued after the establishment of the BNP Paribas Foundation under the renamed program “BNP Paribas pour l’art” in 2000.

This restoration was the subject of an exhibition held at Versailles from May 13 to August 12, 2001.

By restoring these two masterpieces, BNP Paribas has helped preserve one of the crown jewels of Versailles, visited by millions of people each year. This is a way to perpetuate France’s artistic heritage for future generations.