What is Hercules Room?
[[File:Hercules on Olympus.JPG|thumb|300px|Hercules enters Mount Olympus]] The '''Hercules Room''' (also known as the '''Hercules Drawing Room''' or '''Hercules Salon'''; {{lang-fr|Salon d'Hercule}}) is a State Room in the Palace of [[Versailles]]. It occupies what was once the site of a [[chapel]]. [[Louis XIV]] wanted the Hercules Room to be a [[wikt:showcase|showcase]] for a large painting by [[Paolo Veronese]]. The architect [[Robert de Cotte]] began working on the room in 1710. Work was completed in 1736. The Room has been the scene of many glittering events in the history of Versailles. == State Room == [[File:Robert de Cotte.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Robert de Cotte, architect]] The large room is on the ground floor (first floor) of the Palace. It measures 18m x 14m x 45m. A chapel once stood on the site. The Hercules Room connects the royal [[chapel]] and the North Wing of the palace with the Grand Apartment of the King. Architect [[Robert de Cotte]] started work on the room in 1710. The project was set aside in 1715 when Louis XIV died. Work resumed in 1724. [[Louis XV of France|Louis XV]] hired [[architect]] Jacques Gabriel, marble worker Claude-Félix Tarlé, and sculptors Jacques Verberckt and François-Antoine Vassé to complete the room. The room is in the style of the [[Hall of Mirrors]].<ref>Verlet, p. 321</ref> {{clear}} == Paintings by Veronese == [[File:Paolo Veronese - Le Repas chez Simon le Pharisien - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|300px|''The Meal in the House of Simon the Pharisee'' by Paolo Veronese]] [[Louis XIV]] wanted this room to be a showcase for a large painting by [[Paolo Veronese]] called ''Meal at the House of Simon the Pharisee''.<ref name=v322/> This picture was painted for the refectory (dining hall) of the Servite Convent in [[Venice]] in 1570. In 1664, the [[Doge]] gave it to Louis XIV. He wanted the king to support him in a war with the [[Turkish people|Turk]]s. Veronese's ''Eliezer and Rebecca'' hangs above the fireplace on the wall opposite ''Simon''. <ref name=v322/> ''S