Now that we’ve examined the exterior ofPalais Garnier, let’s step inside and admire it from within. You will have to excuse the quality of some of the pictures – since it’s inside, it was pretty dark and I had to use my cellphone.
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The first thing you see when stepping inside, is the Grand Vestibule, the entrance hall of the opera house. This is where you stand in line to have your ticket scanned. At least, it gives you time to look around.The hall is lavishly decorated with the theatrical motifs, based on ancient Greek theatre masks.Sometimes, the masks are pretty disturbing, if you ask me. I wouldn′t want this to come to me in a dream...Also, the Grand Vestibule houses sculptures of prominent composers. I guess, they have run out of room on the facade for all the composers they wanted to commemorate, so they continued here. [I collected all the composers of the Grand Vestibule in this single collage for your convenience]. But the Grand Vestibule is pretty bland compared with what you are going to see next - La salle du grand escalier (The Hall of the Grand Staircase).The Grand Staircase is one of two major showpieces in the interior of Palais Garnier. The other one is the Grand Foyer, to which the staircase leads, and which we will see in a minute.The bottom of the Grand Staircase is decorated by these very elaborate torchères (standing lamps), depicting female figures.The entrance to the main floor of the auditorium from the staircase.The view from the first level of the upper galleries of La salle du grand escalier.The capitals of the ionic columns of La salle du grand escalier.The ceiling of La salle du grand escalier is adorned with the series of paintings by Isidore Alexandre Pils.When the paintings were finished and installed (they were made in the artist′s studio, and then attached to the ceiling), Garnier didn′t like what he saw. ⇨ ⇨ He said, the paintings were "too violent and too intense". So he made the painter and his students to fix them right there on the ceiling. The work continued till the very last moment (the scaffoldings were removed the night before the grand opening). There are four painting in total: "The Gods of Olympus", "Apollo in His Chariot", "Triumph of Harmony", and "Apotheosis of the Opera". ⇨ ⇨ I don′t which is which. Your guess is as good as mine.Press ESC to exit
