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Le Vau and J.H Mansard – French Baroque designers

Uniqueness of French Baroque developed after 1660 when 21 years old Louis XIV took absolute control of the France. He was also known as a ‘Louis the Great’ or ‘The Sun King’ because of his military, politics, social and cultural successes. His personal extravagance let most of the artists perpetuate his greatness and absolutism forever. It was great time for architects like Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin – Mansart.

Louis Le Vau

His first known works were rebuilding of Château de Vincennes, old 14th century royal castle and contribution in building of Château du Raincy. But his first reputable masterpiece was Hotel Lambert build between 1639 and 1644. Its main features are irregular shape and entrance ranged onto the central square. Extended wing from back to the right side is embraced by walled garden. In 1655 he put his contribution in interior of Saint-Sulpice Church. Well known today for the sake of ‘Grand Organ’, one the world’s biggest. As a first king’s architect in 1656 he get commission from Nicolas Fouquet to rebuilt his residence Château Vaux-Le-Vicomte. Located in Maincy, 55 km from Paris, built between 1658 and 1661, surrounded by a moat similar to many contemporary chateaux. Front of the castle has rhythmic, massive presentation. In central place dome is situated as characteristic for baroque buildings. The great innovation was to create the garden, planned together with the building as an extended interior’s views. It was created in symmetrical, geometrical shape with fountains, sculptures and extensive borders. It is worth to mention another building designed by Le Vau which was church of the Collège des Quatre Nations. Symmetrical in shape, topped by dome with pedimented entrance underlined by column and pilasters. Roof crowned balustrade gives almost classical rhythm. Between 1660 and 1670 he went together with other artists, to rebuild and extend other Parisian building, The Louvre Palace from 12th Century. Le Vau works were completely new south wing; restore Galerie d’Apollon destroyed by fire in 1661, designing Galerie d’Hercule. Both galleries were panelled, opulent carved and painted. Walls decoration includes s-shaped ornaments often gilded. Ceilings were painted trompe l’oeil. Huge windows divided by repeated pilasters give theatrical impression. His last year Le Vau spent as a part of ‘Versailles team’ to create the biggest royal commission, The Palace of Versailles as a Centrum political, social and cultural domination of France under the Europe. To his work belong for example part of garden façade and the rooms in the southern part of this extension like queens apartments.

Jules Hardouin – Mansart He was born 2 years after Le Vau’s Hotel Lambert was build, in year when his uncle Francois Mansart’s Château de Maisons (now Château de Maisons-Laffitte) was finished and Church of Val de Grace was still under construction. It was the time when French Baroque was hatching. He grew up in artistic aura as a son of painter and the grandnephew of an architect Francois Mansart, studying French architecture in classical order. His first commission were small Château du Val and Hôtel de Noailles in Saint-Germain-en-Laye Both buildings created between 1674 and 1679, and both to bring in new type of architectural structures, characterised by single – form object with strong, horizontal line. His first remarkable commission was Château de Dampierre in Dampierre-en-Yvelines. Again single buildings were built, but in neighbourhood of other objects organised symmetrically. In distance from front façade the iron – double gate is ranged. The space between is dry paved in cour d’honneur order. On the back of complex park is situated. The new solution was used Mansard Roof, developed and popularised by his uncle. Other small objects were build in the same period, for instance, Château of Clagny, designed for Madame de Montespan. Today not existing, except plans of it. The great achievement of French architecture was development of existing project of Chateau de Versailles. King Louis XIV wanted to build the objects never seen before so engaged the biggest artist that time. As a king’s architect Jules Hardouin – Mansart put great contribution towards this royal challenge. He was responsible for addition of Garden Façade with Le Vau, erection of next wings which extended central block to north and south, symmetrically, created Hall of Mirrors also built The Grand Trianon and The Royal Chapel. Simple but huge in scale gallery was open for the garden by ‘French Windows’, repeated in regular rhythm. Opposite wall reflected shape of the windows in ‘Venetian Mirrors’, which duplicated the outside view. Vaulted ceiling with gilded stucco, painted in fresco with allegorical scenes richly framed with fruits ornaments. Symmetrical hanged immense crystal chandeliers. Rest of parts of walls were divided by marble pilaster, lavish decorated with plaster. In comparison with it The Royal Chapel’s interiors is restrained in form, colour a decoration. Central space with marble floor in red and black geometrical pattern. Simple arcade and balcony with lines Corinthian columns on side, vaulted and painted ceiling and the tall windows make this space pure and clean especially because dominant colours are white and gold in some places. He also created some of the Versailles’s gardens vasques, basins and sculptures. Between great architectural the achievements of J.H Mansart were urban projects, Place des Victoires, Place Vendôme and Pont Royal, so characteristic for baroque philosophy of architectural expanding and theatrical impression. Both places were created for glory of King Louis XIV. Mansart was not only originator of circular Place des Victoires or rectangular Place Vendôme but also designer of most of facades around. His last glorious works were The Chapel of the Virgin of Church of Saint Roch and the most Parisian domes churches famous Les Invalides Church. The façade of the building is stepped with groups of horizontal and vertical columns, pointed by carved pediment. The most spectacular is masterpiece in the proportion of the dome supported by drum and topped by lantern. All rich gilded.

Achievements of both Masters were so great that they were latter echoed by other noble architects across the Europe.

About the Author

Christopher Adach

Artiste Peintre Yannick Le Quilleuc : galerie d’art moderne – portraits figuratifs imaginaires