The celebrations surrounding the marriage of Electoral Prince Friedrich August II to Maria Josepha, daughter of the Austrian Emperor, in Dresden in September 1719 occasioned the construction of the royal State Apartments. The opening of the faithfully reconstructed State Apartments 300 years after their original creation marks the glorious climax of 33 years of reconstruction work on Dresden’s former electoral and royal palace, the Residenzschloss.
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The luxurious suite of rooms included a banqueting hall, two antechambers, the Audience Chamber with the throne, and the State Bedroom containing the magnificent imperial bed. Thanks to a great deal of hard work, expense and professional expertise, as well as supreme craftsmanship, it has been possible to recreate a structural work of art that provides an authentic experience of the palace’s magnificent 18th-century interior.
The preserved originals from the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts), such as the gilt silver furnishings from Augsburg, numerous paintings from the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery), valuable mirror frames and the gold pilasters from the Audience Chamber, which were already exceptionally precious at the time of their creation, testify to the original appearance of the rooms and still today cannot fail to impress.
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The collection of royal costumes from the Wardrobe of August the Strong (1670-1733), part of the Dresden Rüstkammer, marks the culmination of the Baroque style in royal garments, of which King Louis XIV of France was the epitome. Nowhere has such a complete collection of costumes from this era been preserved in such outstanding quality as in Dresden.
This ensemble consisting of a pendulum clock and high pedestal was made by the eminent Parisian cabinetmaker Jean-Pierre Latz (1691-1754). These items are masterpieces of Parisian ornamental carpentry from the period around 1740. Objects of this kind are regarded as some of the most prestigious furnishings of the first half of the 18th century.
The Dresden fireplace screen, a work of supreme craftsmanship made of embossed silver plate, was made by the famous Augsburg goldsmiths Albrecht and Lorenz II Biller and is one of the most outstanding objects in the State Apartments. Only a few silver fireplace screens from this period have survived.
In July 1807, the Dresden Palace experienced a special moment in its history: French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte I stayed overnight as a guest of honour in the otherwise uninhabited State Apartments. The previous year, Napoleon had elevated the Elector of Saxony, Friedrich August III, to the rank of King and thus secured himself a loyal ally. Magnificent creations of the imperial French manufactory for tapestry and porcelain arrived as presents for the first King of Saxony, Friedrich August I, known as “the Just”, in Dresden.
The education of the ruling family’s children was of central political importance, as it ensured governmental stability and the future of the country. Between the ages of two and five their education began including lessons in reading, writing, arithmetic, foreign languages, court etiquette, and the teaching of skills for future social and political responsibility. The princes practised horsemanship, fencing, and military tactics. They also learned how to handle dogs and horses from an early age. Carefully selected dogs served as playmates, loyal companions, guard dogs, and indispensable hunting partners.
In addition to portraits, small-scale edged weapons and firearms, suits of armour, and children’s saddles bear witness to the practical activities of the princesses and princes. One highlight is a carved dog modeled on the mighty guard dogs of Johann Georg I. It wears a replica of a dog collar from the extensive collection in the armory, part of which is also on display here.
![Toilette-Koffer [Zustand vor der Restaurierung], André Charles Boulle, Paris, um 1700](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/d/csm_4_Toilett-Koffer_37608_Foto_Estel_und_Klut_6e28d4a7e3.webp "Toilette-Koffer [Zustand vor der Restaurierung], André Charles Boulle, Paris, um 1700")
Residenzschloss
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