Lovely post! I have to say, reading this and looking at the pictures, I'm really glad that Wilhelmine, despite everything, got to create beauty for herself and live in it. Interesting that she chose Apollo as the theme for the Eremitage! Also, it feels a lot more imposing and less airy than Sanssouci does, which I think is due to colours and architecture both.
outside facade is deceptively modest
Hello, yes, that contrast is something else. And it's really lucky it survived, what with the inside being all wood.
Fritz never visited Bayreuth after the opera house was finished, alas
Aw, too bad.
Apolllo and his Quadriga were rudely replaced by a Prussian/German eagle
Well, that's rude indeed, glad it got fixed.
No tips for little brother re: working water fountains? Heh.
What she insisted on was a Roman theatre, which was by no means just decorative. When brother Fritz and Voltaire visited in 1743, she staged Racine's tragedy Bajazet there; Voltaire played the Vizir Acomat, Wilhelmine played Roxane. Fritz stuck to applause.
:DDD
Thinking about it, the entire Eremitage part feels rather stage-like - the view of the fountains from the New Palace as well for example.
no subject
outside facade is deceptively modest
Hello, yes, that contrast is something else. And it's really lucky it survived, what with the inside being all wood.
Fritz never visited Bayreuth after the opera house was finished, alas
Aw, too bad.
Apolllo and his Quadriga were rudely replaced by a Prussian/German eagle
Well, that's rude indeed, glad it got fixed.
No tips for little brother re: working water fountains? Heh.
What she insisted on was a Roman theatre, which was by no means just decorative. When brother Fritz and Voltaire visited in 1743, she staged Racine's tragedy Bajazet there; Voltaire played the Vizir Acomat, Wilhelmine played Roxane. Fritz stuck to applause.
:DDD
Thinking about it, the entire Eremitage part feels rather stage-like - the view of the fountains from the New Palace as well for example.