Mansart, Jules Hardouin


Mansart or Mansard, Jules Hardouin

(zhül ärdwăN` mäNsär`), 1646–1708, French architect. He studied under his great-uncle François Mansart and under Libéral Bruant. Favored by Louis XIV, he was ennobled and in 1699 made chief architect for the royal buildings. After enlarging the royal château of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, he undertook work at the palace of Versailles, where among his accomplishments are the impressive Galérie des Glaces (decorated by Le Brun), the Grand Trianon, the palace chapel, and the vast orangery. As town planner he designed in Paris the Place des Victoires (1684–86) and the superb Place Vendôme (1699). The impressive Dôme des Invalides (1706) in Paris is considered his most splendid achievement; it was added as a second church to the one constructed by Bruant and brought the scheme of the Hôtel des InvalidesInvalides, Hôtel des
, celebrated landmark of Paris, France, built (1671–76) by Libéral Bruant as a hospital for disabled veterans. One of the most imposing examples of French classical architecture, it now houses a military museum.
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 to completion. Much of Mansart's work was executed in the massive Roman baroque style, but some of his designs at Versailles point toward the lightness and elegance of the rococo.

Mansart, Jules Hardouin

 

(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.

REFERENCE

Bourget, P., andG. Cattani. Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Paris, 1960. (Contains a bibliography. Pages 173–77.)