<P> One of the most baffling aspects to the study of Versailles is the cost--how much Louis XIV and his successors spent on Versailles . Owing to the nature of the construction of Versailles and the evolution of the role of the palace, construction costs were essentially a private matter . Initially, Versailles was planned to be an occasional residence for Louis XIV and was referred to as the "king's house". Accordingly, much of the early funding for construction came from the king's own purse, funded by revenues received from his appanage as well as revenues from the province of New France (Canada), which, while part of France, was a private possession of the king and therefore exempt from the control of the Parliaments . </P> <P> Once Louis XIV embarked on his building campaigns, expenses for Versailles became more of a matter for public record, especially after Jean - Baptiste Colbert assumed the post of finance minister . Expenditures on Versailles have been recorded in the compendium known as the Comptes des bâtiments du roi sous le règne de Louis XIV and which was edited and published in five volumes by Jules Guiffrey in the 19th century . These volumes provide valuable archival material pursuant to the financial expenditures of all aspects of Versailles from the payments disbursed for many trades as varied as artists and mole catchers . </P> <P> To counter the costs of Versailles during the early years of Louis XIV's personal reign, Colbert decided that Versailles should be the "showcase" of France . Accordingly, all materials that went into the construction and decoration of Versailles were manufactured in France . Even the mirrors used in the decoration of the Hall of Mirrors were made in France . While Venice in the 17th century had the monopoly on the manufacture of mirrors, Colbert succeeded in enticing a number of artisans from Venice to make the mirrors for Versailles . However, owing to Venetian proprietary claims on the technology of mirror manufacture, the Venetian government ordered the assassination of the artisans to keep the secrets proprietary to the Venetian Republic . To meet the demands for decorating and furnishing Versailles, Colbert nationalised the tapestry factory owned by the Gobelin family, to become the Manufacture royale des Gobelins . </P> <P> In 1667, the name of the enterprise was changed to the Manufacture royale des Meubles de la Couronne . The Gobelins were charged with all decoration needs of the palace, which was under the direction of Charles Le Brun . </P>

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