The Hôtel National des Invalides
In the very heart of Paris, the Hôtel National des Invalides, a gem of classical architecture founded by Louis XIV, is about to give a second life to one of its most precious treasures: the murals of the European Room. This restoration project, amounting to 1.25 million euros, aims to restore these exceptional works of art which recount the great victories of the Sun King in the Franco-Dutch war between 1673 and 1675. This project benefits from €255,000 of financing from the Groupe Dassault.
An invaluable witness of French History
The Hôtel National des Invalides, found in 1670 for ill and wounded soldiers, today contains the Army Museum, one of the most-visited museums in the capital. Among its treasures is the European Room, one of the four former refectories of the Hôtel, which boasts 350m2 (3,800ft2) of murals painted by Michel II Corneille (known as Michel Corneille Le Jeune, Paris 1642-1708).
These works, which celebrate the military accomplishments of Louis XIV, serve as a priceless witness of French history and of the art of painting in the Grand Siècle. Nevertheless, the original usage of the room as a refectory has damaged the paintings. Condensation, mixed with cooking vapours, have caused significant damage. Despite several interventions since the 18th century, the last of which was in 1976, deep restoration work is still necessary.
An enriched visitor experience
The restoration project will stretch over several years. After a phase of preliminary studies in 2023, the exploratory work, begun in 2024, will be followed by the waterproofing and restoration of the murals until 2025. The project will end in 2026 with the organization of the site, including placing information panels and the installing lighting to better display these masterpieces to visitors. This project aims not only to preserve this piece of artistic heritage, but also to offer to the public an enriched and secure experience.
In fact, the European Room is the second-most visited space in the Army Museum – just after the Dome over the tomb of Napoleon I – drawing over 600,000 visitors every year eager to discover the riches of French military history.
Our Role
The support of Dassault Histoire & Patrimoine continues the Dassault Group’s tradition of cultural patronage and heritage preservation. Thanks to this contribution, supplementing the donations from several other public and private actors, and thanks to a collective will to preserve this national treasure, the masterpieces of Michel II Corneille will reclaim their original brilliance, allowing this iconic site to continue to tell the story of the great chapters of the reign of Louis XIV for centuries to come.