Jules Hardouin Mansart

(born Hardouin; also Hardouin-Mansart). Born Apr. 16, 1646, in Paris; died May 11, 1708, in Marly, near Versailles. French architect.

Mansart was the grandnephew and student of F. Mansart and became a member of the Academy of Architecture in 1675. Beginning in 1678 at Versailles he built the southern wing (1678–81) and the northern wing (1684–89) of the Palais Royal, reconstructed its park facade, and, with C. Le Brun, created a number of interiors, including the magnificent Hall of Mirrors (1678–84), which is 73 meters long, and the Halls of Peace and War. Mansart also built the Grand Trianon (1687), the Clagny Castle (1676–83), and many others.

Among Mansart’s most important works were the planning and construction of the Place Vendome (1685–1701), the Place des Victoires (1685–86), and the Dome des Invalides (1680–1706) in Paris. In the creative work of Mansart, French architecture of the absolutist epoch reached its highest point of development. Combining the severe forms of classicism with the spacious scope of the baroque and relying on the large-scale grand style, Mansart added a majestic and triumphant character to his works.