The Wrightsman Galleries for French Decorative Arts

In 2007, the thirteen Wrightsman Galleries for French decorative arts (galleries 522–528; 531–533; and 545–547 on the Museum map) underwent extensive renovations to improve the presentation of the Museum's renowned collection of French furniture and related decorative arts pieces—many of which have a royal provenance. All of the eighteenth-century boiseries, as well as many objects, received conservation treatment, and a set of seat furniture was reupholstered with a modern re-creation of the original embroidered show covers. The galleries include a number of important works previously not on view, including a mid-seventeenth-century carved ebony cabinet on a stand and a late-eighteenth-century carved and gilded state bed, as well as additional pieces of Sèvres porcelain and gold snuff boxes.

Renovations to the galleries included the repainting of the paneling in one of the period rooms, the conservation treatment of a large group of objects, and the reupholstering of several pieces of furniture with modern re-creations of their original show covers.

In addition to the visible enhancements made to the galleries, important behind-the-scenes renovations included the installation of state-of-the-art climate control and security systems, as well as new lighting and fire suppression systems, which will ensure the continued safety of these spectacular galleries.