Watercolor Room

In the drawing of the apartment of Charles III of Bourbon conserved at the State Archives, the room now known as the Watercolor Room is indicated as the Duke's Cabinet d'étude. It is therefore likely that the elegant wooden ceiling that covers it was made, like that of the previous room, around the middle of the 19th century. On the walls are watercolors by Italian, French and German painters of the 19th century. Most of them are rather small and generally depict landscapes, urban views or ruins, or simple scenes. It is believed that at least some of these watercolors were purchased by Maria Luigia herself during some of her trips away from the Parmesan states, as souvenirs of the places visited, meant to be hung on the walls of the private rooms of the duchess's homes. The duchess made many trips, sometimes for pleasure, often for family reasons or reasons of health, occasionally for reasons of state. Every year, from June to September, she vacationed in Austria where she arrived along different itineraries.