II. - Schloss Schwetzingen

that reason, there is no full chronology of building
measures and uses for any of the electoral
buildings at Schwetzingen.
Repairs and Alterations
The palace of Schwetzingen was rarely visited
by its owners after the electoral court had
moved to Munich (1778) and the property had
fallen to the Grand Dukes of Baden (1803).
The House of Baden did little beyond organizing
the occasional festive event, using the
garden and a few halls in the southern quarter-circle
pavilion as well as the corps de logis,
for the purpose. Thanks to this general lack of
interest, the palace itself and the smaller buildings
were spared large-scale alterations during
the 19th and the fi rst decades of the 20th
century. Only the occasional detail, such as
wallpaper or furniture, was adapted to current
taste, at the request of the archducal family. 65
On the other hand, the property needed to be
maintained. Even from Carl Theodor’s time
documents tell of constant repairs. 66 During
the entire 19th century, the respective owners
were aware of the need to keep the buildings
and grounds in good shape (Fig. 1). 67 For that
reason, a slater was commissioned to inspect
all roofs twice a year, and repair them where
necessary. 68 A glazier was given the task of
keeping the windows clean and intact. 69 Shutters,
doors, mountings, fl oors, gutters 70 and
65 In 1804, a number of second-fl oor rooms in the corps de logis
received new wallpaper (cp. Kurt Martin (ed.), Die Kunstdenkmäler
Badens 10,2, Stadt Schwetzingen, Karlsruhe 1933, p.
83). In 1904, the Archduchess herself chose the wallpaper for
her bedroom (GLA 56/3905).
66 The “protocollum commissionale” of 1795, gives a detailed description
of the condition of the garden and its buildings (GLA
221/46). Moreover, in 1776, Nicolas de Pigage (1723-1796)
summarized all work done in the past 15 years [„Les ouvrages
tout à fait neufs, qu´on a fait depuis 15 ans à Schwetzingen
(GLA 221/39)].
67 One document dated 1812, explicitly states the importance
of an annual sum for maintenance and the repair of damages
caused by “time, war or malice” (GLA 221/208). From the fi rst
half of the 19th century, some lists survive, drawn up by the
court builder and the steward, and listing all necessary work
done and the cost incurred, entitled “Die auf die Unterhaltung
des herrschaftlichen Schlosses und der dazugehörigen
Nebengebäuden zu Schwetzingen […] verwendeten Kosten
1804-1809” (GLA 221/36); “Die Unterhaltung des herrschaftlichen
Schlosses und der dazugehörigen Nebengebäude
1810-13” (GLA 221/7).
68 Documented for the years 1813 (GLA 56/3901), 1850 (GLA
56/3903) and 1901 (GLA 56/3904), among others.
69 Documented in 1809 (GLA 56/3901) and elsewhere.
70 For example, in 1858, the stone gutters near the quarter-circle
pavilions were to be cemented with a mixture of cement and
linseed oil (GLA 56/3903).
III. Schwetzingen – Historical Context
other parts prone to deterioration were kept
in working order. The repair and occasional
renewal of coats of plaster and paint was seen
to – one example is the repainting of the corps
de logis and the wings with grey-green lime
paint in the 1830s, a detailed description of
which has survived. 71 Occasionally, large-scale
renovation work became necessary, for example
on the mosque 72 and the bathhouse 73 .
As well as maintenance work, there were
measures in connection with the letting of
certain buildings, or fi nding new uses for
them. In particular, this concerned the working
quarters, the side wings, the quarter-circle
pavilions and the orangery. Rooms were
let to private individuals for residential purposes,
which, despite the rules of conduct, re-
71 GLA 56/3901 and 237/36923.
72 Documented work on the mosque includes repainting and
urgent repairs in 1821 (GLA 56/3901); unspecifi ed repairs in
1830 (GLA 56/3979); work on the badly damaged dome in
1868 (GLA 56/3904).
73 For example, numerous repairs of the roof and the stonework
in 1810-12 (GLA 221/57); repairs in 1886 (GLA 54/11); a
restoration of the ceiling painting in 1890 (GLA 56/3904);
dry-rot control measures in the entire building in 1902ff. (GLA
56/3904).
III.
Fig. 1: Section of an early
19th-century document listing
the expenses for the upkeep of
the palace (“Die auf die Unterhaltung
des herrschaftlichen
Schlosses und den dazugehörigen
Nebengebäuden zu
Schwetzingen […] verwendeten
Kosten 1804-1809”) (Blatt 16v,
Generallandesarchiv Karlsruhe,
221/36).
125