The Millions Room

I was stunned by the beauty of the Millions Room in the Schonnbrunn Palace in Vienna. The room was dimly lit when I visited it, as opposed to the glowing red in the photograph I stole from the Palace website. I was fascinated that Indian art was famous in 18th-century Vienna. I'll quote the palace website description of the room, because it gives a wealth of information:

Originally called the Feketin Cabinet, this room became known as the Millions Room on account of its precious rosewood panelling.

Set into sixty-one Rococo cartouches in this panelling are Indo-Persian miniatures showing scenes from the private or court life of the Mogul rulers in India in the 16th and 17th century.

In order to fit the miniatures into the asymmetrical shapes of the cartouches, individual leaves were cut up by members of the imperial family and put together to form new pictures in a sort of collage.

Another remarkable feature of this room is the chandelier, a piece of Viennese craftsmanship dating to 1760, made of bronze with enamel flowers. The bust behind the settee is of Maria Theresa's youngest daughter, Marie Antoinette, later Queen of France.

I do remember some of the minatures being scenes from the lives of Hindu kings and queens, and not only from those of Moghul rulers. If anyone is interested in doing a research project on this room (and knows how to get funding for a flight and stay in Vienna as well) count me in!