THE STYLE OF LOUIS XIV. 



279 



revolving in circumscribed orbits round the roi soldi. This gilded 

 captivity soon became second nature, so that no greater punishment 

 could be inflicted than banishment from the Court. Consequently, 

 nearly all the great houses of the period are in or near Paris, which 

 was also the home of the wealthiest families of the bourgeoisie and 

 magistracy. Though a minor aristocracy, both of the sword and robe, 

 centred in provincial capitals and had their hotels in them side by 

 side with those of the rich burghers, as a rule the only provincial 

 buildings which can compare with those of the Court belonged to 

 the State or the municipalities. 



PLANS AND ELEVATIONS. The growth of refinement in society 

 and of a desire for comfort had brought about important changes in 

 planning about the third decade of the century. Of the further 

 developments which followed, one was greater specialisation in the 

 uses of rooms. Thus the term 

 salle a manger begins to appear 

 on the plans of this period. A 

 new apartment of Italian origin, the 

 saloon, also began to be introduced 

 (Fig. 275). This salon, as the scene 

 of the public life of a great house, 

 was the equivalent, not of the 

 modern withdrawing room, but 

 rather of the mediaeval hall. Occu- 

 pying the position recently held by 

 the grand staircase in the main axis, 

 and forming the starting point of 

 two suites, it served partly as en- 

 trance hall, partly for concerts and 

 balls. It usually ran up through 

 two storeys, and was often elliptical 

 in plan, and covered by a dome. 

 Another step was also made to- 

 wards compactness and comfort. 

 It had hitherto been the practice 

 to plan each wing one room deep 

 with light on both sides. It now 

 became usual to plan them two 



rooms deep, with light consequently 

 on one side only (Fig. 269). The 

 completeness of the equipment of 



mansions at this period is shown by 



* 264. HOTEL ROLAND, BY J. MAROT 



the provision in some contemporary (NOW DESTROYED). PLAN. FROM 



plans of a room for sick servants. j. MAROT. 



