Dining room

The dining room, situated on the ground floor of the large left-wing pavilion from the 18th century built by Count d’Argenson, stands as one of Coulomb’s major achievements at Les Ormes. Pleasantly located, it faces southwest and is generously open to the garden through five casements. The stucco and polychrome marble decor, punctuated with Ionic pilasters, clearly pays homage to the design conceived by Charles de Wailly in the 18th century. Created in 1908, the room was adorned with various stuccos: Sienna yellow, imitation of Rance (rose pilasters), statuary white (bases and capitals of the pilasters), veined white (cornice), Paonazzo (frame of the room) by the Parisian stucco artists Rousselet father and son. The rocaille-style fireplace is made of Rance marble, and above it hangs a medallion portrait of Louis XV, as it was placed in the 20th century during the time of the Argenson family. The bust of Voltaire, located at the entrance and a copy of Jean Houdon’s famous model, along with those of Diderot and Rousseau, aims to evoke the great minds of the Enlightenment and the Academy of Les Ormes. It also attests to the philosophical ties with the castle. The 18th century is once again evoked through the furniture. A table has been set in the center to recall a family meal at the Argenson residence during the Belle Époque. The staircase behind the dining room, with its beautiful rocaille-style wrought-iron railing, leads to the apartments on the upper floors of the pavilion, arranged by Count d’Argenson. The layout has remained unchanged since the 18th century.