Napoleon's Bathroom
During her regency Elisa Baciocchi, Napoleon's sister and Grand Duchess of Tuscany, chose to live in Palazzo Pitti and many “improvements” were planned for the palace to meet her “imperial residence needs.” In fact, none of the planned changes could be implemented, except for the “Emperor’s bathroom,” located on the piano nobile of the palace in what is now the Palatine Gallery.
Work began in 1813 on the design of the court architect Giuseppe Cacialli who put in place the beautiful marble floor produced by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure. Cacialli also prepared the pipeline and the taps, as well as the boiler to ensure hot water in the marble tub, which was created by the Italian sculptor, Lorenzo Bartolini.
The walls were adorned with a stucco frieze with horticultural motifs, trophies and musical instruments, while the decoration of the ceiling depicts scenes of Ganymede and the Bacchanti. The lunette bas-reliefs represent scenes of Venus and the Triumph of Cassiopeia, while the marble statues inside the niches depict Galatea, Dori, Thetis, and Amphrodite.
This small but elegant room was completed in early 1821, coinciding with the restoration of Ferdinand III as grand duke of Tuscany.
Work began in 1813 on the design of the court architect Giuseppe Cacialli who put in place the beautiful marble floor produced by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure. Cacialli also prepared the pipeline and the taps, as well as the boiler to ensure hot water in the marble tub, which was created by the Italian sculptor, Lorenzo Bartolini.
The walls were adorned with a stucco frieze with horticultural motifs, trophies and musical instruments, while the decoration of the ceiling depicts scenes of Ganymede and the Bacchanti. The lunette bas-reliefs represent scenes of Venus and the Triumph of Cassiopeia, while the marble statues inside the niches depict Galatea, Dori, Thetis, and Amphrodite.
This small but elegant room was completed in early 1821, coinciding with the restoration of Ferdinand III as grand duke of Tuscany.