Rubens Room bay window

The bay window of the Rubens Room in the Upper Castle in Siegen is elaborately decorated. The floor and surrounding wood panelling feature intricate wood and metal inlays dating back to the first half of the 18th century. The ceiling is decorated with finely coloured and gilded stucco. The oval in the middle of the floor contains a so-called alliance coat of arms. Held by two lion figures, it presumably refers to the marriage between Ernestina Leopoldina von Hohenlohe-Bartenstein and Franz Hugo von Nassau-Siegen in 1731. The purpose of this union was to preserve the Catholic territory of Nassau-Siegen. Donations from other Catholic princes and princesses as well as Emperor Charles IV enabled the Upper Castle to be converted into the couple’s residence. The surrounding wood panelling shows animal motifs such as a horse, a cow and a deer. The walls are divided by protrusions in the base area and pilasters above: these are wall pillars designed like columns that jut out somewhat. The central animal motifs are also framed in this way.