The Detroit Historical Society documents the process of restoring artifacts for future reference and to visually explain the time and effort that goes into preserving metro Detroit’s history.

The images below show how one of the Detroit Historical Museum’s signature pieces, the Cadillac at the Palace of Versailles painting, was restored step by step.

After restoration, this painting was hung prominently in the Detroit Historical Museum’s Round Hall for all visitors to view. We have also included the written information about the painting that is currently on display.

Funding to support the complete restoration of the Cadillac at the Palace of Versailles painting was generously provided by The Wilkinson Fund.

Cadillac at the Palace of Versailles
In 1697 the French government decided to close many of their outposts in “New France.” Antoine Cadillac, former commander at Michilimackinac, went to Paris to persuade the government to consider the creation of a new Fort, at a strategic location between Lake Erie and Lake Huron which would deny the English access to the far rich lands of the upper lakes.

Louis XIV approved the plan and Cadillac returned to Quebec. On July 24, 1701, he arrived at the site of the future city of Detroit with 100 men in 25 canoes, loaded with provisions, merchandise, arms and tools in order to build the new settlement.

In 1933 eight Michigan artists were commissioned to do a series of murals depicting the history of the State of Michigan exhibit at the Chicago World’s Fair. This work, be Leon Makielski, shows Cadillac presenting his proposal to King Louis XIV at Versailles. Among the interested onlookers are Count Ponchartrain, Chancellor of France and Cadillac’s sponsor, for whom the new Fort would be named, Cardinal Noailles, and Madam de Maintenon.

After the Fair, this painting hung in the State Capital in Lansing for many years until it was given to the Detroit Historical Museum as a gift of the Michigan State Historical Commission.