NARRATOR: The magnificent painted and gilded paneling in this room was created in Paris. But it was originally used in a small reception room of a grand home in southern France that later became a museum. A variety of carved musical instruments adorn the rounded corners of the room. And carved on the door panels are smoking incense burners inspired by objects from the Classical world. The gilded firescreen is also in the Neoclassical style.Its uprights are shaped like burning torches. At this time, a renewed interest in antiquity was sparked, in part, by the recent discovery of the ancient cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. The firescreen is among a number of pieces in this room with a royal provenance. It was made for Marie Antoinette for her boudoir at the royal castle of Fontainebleau. Louis XVI loved to go there because he could hunt in the large forests surrounding the castle. Curator Daniëlle Kisluk-Grosheide.

DANIËLLE KISLUK-GROSHEIDE: Marie-Antoinette herself was not particularly interested in hunting, and in a way, I think, to make up for spending time at Fontainebleau, the King allowed her to redo some of the rooms at Fontainebleau.. . . And this particular fire screen was part of the furniture that was supplied for the room by Georges Jacob.