Page 91
Royal. Palace. BERLIN. Section 2. 67
the Schweizer-Saal, originally the old guard-room, and now used
as a reception-room on festive occasions. — Next conic the two
State Antechambers. The first (1) contains portraits of the family
of Frederick the Great and his queen, by Pesne; the second (2), with
an old ceiling by Schliiter, has portraits of the Great Elector and
his family, Frederick William I. as Crown Prince, Peter the Great,
and Catharine II. of Russia.
In the Northern Wing is the Konigs-Zimmer (3), renovated in
the style of Schliiter, and containing portraits of all the Prussian
kings down" to the Emperor Frederick (the first three by Pesne).
— To the W. of the Kbnigs-Zimmer follow the State Rooms, built
by Schliiter and gorgeously decorated, later somewhat modernized
by Stiller. In the *Rote Drap d'Or Kammer (9) is Cainphauseu's
picture of 'Emperor William I. at Gravelotte', while the fireplace
is surmounted by a relief by Schliiter. — This is followed by the
Rote Adler, or Brandenburger Kammer (10), with silk wall- hang¬
ings; the chandeliers and tables are of wood covered with silver,
the originals having been melted down by Frederick the Great;
here is also Camjjhausen's picture of The Great Elector at Fehr-
bellin'. — In the *Ritter-Saal (formerly the Throne Room) the
gorgeous rococo decoration reaches its climax. The *Groups of the
four quarters of the globe, above the side-doors, are among the best
efforts of Schliiter, while the carving of the large central door is
also worthy of notice. The trumpeters' gallery was formerly (1739)
of solid silver, but was melted down by Frederick the Great in
1745. The crystal chandelier was purchased from the city of
Worms by Frederick William III. On the sideboard, designed by
Eosander (1703), are the finest specimens of plate in the royal col¬
lection (including a tankard by Jamnitzer), mostly dating from the
time of the first two Prussian kings, and forming the remains of a
once considerable treasure, the rest of which was melted down in
war-time. In this apartment court receptions and the distribution of
orders take place. — The Schwarze Adler Kammkr (11), decorated
in the same style as the 'Rote Adler Kammer', contains Camp-
hauseu's picture of 'Frederick the Great at. Leuthen'. The allegori¬
cal ceiling-painting represents 'The Founding of the < trder of the
Black Eagle', by Leyyebe. — In the Ron-: Samt-Kammer (12) are
portraits of Frederick I. and his consort Sophia Charlotte, in hand¬
some antique frames. The old velvet tapestry with silver borders
(from which the room takes its name) and the gilded furniture are
worthy of notice. — The former Chapel (13) was fitted up in 1879
as a hall for themeetings of the High Order of the Black Eagle, and
contains a picture by A. von Werner representing the first investi¬
ture with the order by King Frederick I. on Jan. 18th, 1701.
The Picture Gallery, 197 ft. in length, is used as a banqueting-
hall aud can accommodate 400 guests. On the window-side (fine
5*