Philippe rebuilt, expanded and decorated the palace. She thought that the air outside of Paris would be healthier for their children. Marie Antoinette refurbished the palace, but did not have much time to enjoy it. The French Revolution broke out in and the royal family was placed under house arrest at the Tuileries Palace. The Palace of Saint-Cloud became the property of the French nation. Once they were there, Napoleon stormed into their meetings, supported by a force of grenadiers.
Napoleon subsequently became the First Consul of France. He first occupied Saint-Cloud in the spring of Napoleon liked Saint-Cloud because he was more at liberty there and surrounded by fewer people than at the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Saint-Cloud was in the shape of a U that opened to the east, toward the Seine.
The central part of the building included salons and state rooms. The south wing consisted of apartments. In the back, an orangery extended to the west on the north end. His workroom was very large, and its walls were literally covered with books, from the floor to the ceiling.
He had himself designed his writing-table, which was in the shape of a bass. Numerous papers were spread out on its wings.
His usual place was on a settee covered with green taffeta, which stood near the mantelpiece, on which were two fine bronze busts of Scipio and of Hannibal. His apartment was on the floor above, and communicated with this room by means of a private staircase.
