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Jackie Schuknecht
06-13-2010, 12:21 PM
The palace was finished in about 1682. These are the front gates with the public entrance just to the left. The gates were made of gilded bronze which looks very opulent.
I found the process of applying the gold interesting:

Ormolu (from French or moulu, signifying gold ground or pounded) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-karat gold (http://www.birdphotographers.net/wiki/Gold) in a mercury (http://www.birdphotographers.net/wiki/Mercury_(element)) amalgam (http://www.birdphotographers.net/wiki/Amalgam_(chemistry)) to an object of bronze (http://www.birdphotographers.net/wiki/Bronze). The mercury is driven off in a kiln. The French refer to this technique as bronze doré, in English gilt bronze.
The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding (http://www.birdphotographers.net/wiki/Fire-gilding), in which a solution of nitrate of mercury (http://www.birdphotographers.net/wiki/Mercury_nitrate) is applied to a piece of copper (http://www.birdphotographers.net/wiki/Copper), brass (http://www.birdphotographers.net/wiki/Brass), or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.
Due to exposure to the harmful mercury fumes, most gilders did not survive beyond 40 years of age, .

Would take a pass on this job though:)

Dave Mills
06-13-2010, 01:15 PM
Hi Jackie, Very nice! I like the angle you took this at. That gilded bronze really pops...

Alfred Forns
06-13-2010, 05:29 PM
Like the chosen angle Jackie .. a palace it is !!!

Fabs Forns
06-13-2010, 09:05 PM
Thanks for the explanation, jackie, quite interesting and a beautiful image too. I'm sure you enjoyed your trip!

Jackie Schuknecht
06-13-2010, 09:35 PM
Fabs if you get the chance you would love it, so many galleries to see. Loved the Orsay which has a great collection of the Impressionist painters.

Fabs Forns
06-13-2010, 09:45 PM
I was there 3 times, but never made it Versailles :(

Michael Pancier
06-14-2010, 08:40 AM
wow. Nicely done. Hope you got shots of the garden. I remember getting lost there at age 11. Freaked my parents out....:D

Jackie Schuknecht
06-14-2010, 10:06 AM
Lots of shots of the gardens especially at the back with the Petit and Grand Trianon. I think it was almost a magical place and think the hobbits might still live there:) Yes it is maze-like and beautiful. Added NIK tonal contrast in this shot seemed to make it more dramatic.

Harshad Barve
06-15-2010, 09:24 PM
Wow , excellent image , lovely palace too
TFS