© Service photographique de la Présidence de la République
The Queen's dairy
To encourage Marie-Antoinette to stay at Rambouillet, Louis XVIth commissioned the construction, at the eastern end of the canals, an enclosure complete with its dairy. This neo-classical construction is of earthenware, built by the architect Thévenin, and is set among circular pavilions built of brick in a rustic country style. At the center of the enclosure, the dairy can be reached through a peristyle decorated with Tuscan columns atop which is a medallion representing a cow feeding its calf.
A caisson cupola with rose windows around which runs a tall console in Carrara marble tops a first round room. Wall nooks contain vases with decorative handles, ornamented with goat's heads and filled with fresh milk. This is the room where one came to taste fresh milk and dairy produce. Furnishing in the Etruscan style by Georges Jacob, designed by Hubert Robert, previously occupied the lounge. Like the vases, it was dispersed during the Revolution.
Napoleon refurbished the Dairy. He set up a large table of white marble in it, the center decorated with imperial figures. The were replaced during the Restauration period with the star on a red filed as can be seen today.
© Service photographique de la Présidence de la République
The Queen's dairy
This rotunda opens onto a rectangular room: water jets, Etruscan vases and curvaceous goblets supported by their goat's head tripod converge toward the artificial grotto.
