Palace of Versailles1.

i. Who was the architect or founder of the building ?

The men in charge of the project were Baraque Architects under the direction of chief designer Louis Le Vau, the garden designer Andre le Notre and arts supremo Charles Le Brun.

Louis Le Vau- Architect

One of the greatest architects in 17th century France, Louis Le Vau was part of a trio of Baroque architects

He helped to create the Louis Quatorze (XIV) style of architecture at the Palace of Versailles, where he set out for the King the main designs which transformed a hunting lodge into the most celebrated royal palace in the world.

Among his other contributions to Baroque architecture are;

i) the Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte (1656-61)ii) the Palais du Louvre (with Claude Perrault)iii) the Church of Saint-Sulpice, Paris (1646)iv) the Hotel Lambert for the Ile Saint-Louis, Paris (1642-44)

He also worked on the College des Quatre-Nations (now the Institut de France), the Chateau of Meudon, Vincennes Castle and many other buildings. He was born and died in Paris.

Biography

1596-69 - Trained by his father, a Stone Mason, he was influenced by Italian architecture, including the designs of Bernini (1598-1680) and Pietro da Cortona

1634 - He began his career with the design of the Hotel de Bautru , followed by the elegant Hotel Lambert, and others, as well as a number of townhouses on the Ile Saint-Louis, which he designed using a combination of classical French and Baroque styles.

1654- he designed new wings and a colonnade for the Louvre; in the same year he was appointed first architect to King Louis XIV (reigned 1643-1715).

1656 - he began his architectural masterpiece, the Chateau Vaux-le-Vicomte, owned by France's wealthy finance minister Nicolas Fouquet (1615–80). Probably the most important French Chateau of the Baroque period, it possesses all the archetypal Classical characteristics of order, balance and symmetry, while its monumental form conveys a sense of enduring power. Its facade is dominated by a large pediment and oval dome, accompanied by alternating patterns of windows and pilasters. The building, whose interiors were decorated by Charles Lebrun and others, stands in formal gardens designed by Andre le Notre.

1661 - in Paris, Le Vau and Lebrun began the redesign of the Galerie d'Apollon in the Louvre.

1665 - Le Vau collaborated with Perrault to design the famous east facade of the Louvre (1665–74) in a style which anticipated 18th century Neoclassical

architecture and which was so highly regarded by Sir Christopher Wren. At the same time, Le Vau (assisted by Francois d' Orbay) was involved in the design of the College des Quatre Nations, Paris (1661-74) now the Institut de France.

By employing a pedimented facade (with a tall cupola behind) flanked by two quadrants ending in pavilions facing the River Seine (thus giving the structure a concave facade bordered by the wings), he showed a strong affinity with Italian Baroque art, and with the work of both Bernini and Francesco Borromini.

Buildings Designed by Louis Le Vau

- Hotel de Bautru (1634)- Hotel Lambert, Ile Saint-Louis (1642-44)- Chateau of Livry, Raincy (1645)- Church of Saint-Sulpice (1646)- Palais du Louvre (1654, Wings & Colonnade)- Hotel de Fonteney (1656)- Chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte (1656-61)- Vincennes Castle (1654)- College des Quatre-Nations (Institut de France) (1661-74)- Palais du Louvre (1661, Galerie d'Apollon)- Palace of Versailles (1667-70, first stage)

Hotel Lambert, Ile Saint-Louis (1642-44)

Church of Saint Sulpice (1646)

Palace of Versailles

Kings bedroom at Versailles Palace

ii. What was the concept or philosophy of the architect or founder that makes the building historically significant/meaningful?

The Versailles Palace and Gardens stood as a symbol of the French royal power and control. The king’s control over the courts and nobles showed the king’s absolute monarchy. The design features depicted are quintessential, and iconic examples of French Baroque design and influenced the design of gardens and cities throughout Europe, and across the world, including Washington DC, which was designed using themes of Baroque design. Versailles design is quite lavish and is still praised as perhaps the ultimate example of French Baroque landscape design.

Design Concept and Significant Features

Central Axis, Grand Canal, Tapis Vert, and Fountain of Lotona:

Louis XIV built the Versailles Palace and Gardens to show off his power. The garden's main axis gives the powerful and world-renowned illusion of extending for eternity along the west horizon, where the sun sets. The main axis includes gravel, grass, and water. The axis starts in gravel surrounding the Fountain of Lotona; where Latona is depicted with her two children Apollo and Diana. Surrounding them are peasants who have refused them water so they are turning the peasants to frogs. This is just one out of some 1,400 fountains, which used water from diverted rivers in order to flow. Next along the central axis is a long rectangle of manicured turf, the Tapis Vert. After the Tapis Vert there is a mile-long rectangle of water, the Grand Canal, lined with tall, clipped hedges which is situated to reflect the sun. The central axis descends to this point, then levels out here so the Grand Canal looks as if it is bent up. The long

central axis ends with trees lining the grassy allee, narrowing in to help the visual effect of continuing for eternity.

Fountain of Latona/ image Brittany Bemko

The Hall Mirror at Versailles Palace

Hall of Mirrors

The Hall of Mirrors is a 235-foot-long drawing and ballroom, lined on one wall with seventeen massive mirrors, which were extremely expensive at that time. There are glass chandeliers running down the length of the hall, as well as marble and bronze statues of women holding up glass candelabras. The

mirrors were designed to reflect the ceiling frescoes, which depict and pay tribute to the early years of Louis XIV's reign as king. Across from the mirrors is a row of windows looking out to the gardens. The Hall of Mirrors has served as the site for many peace talks; the Treaty of Versailles to end World War I was signed in the Hall of Mirrors in 1919.

Le Petit Trianon

Le Petit TrianonRustic Gardens were becoming a fad in the late 18th century, so Marie-Antoinette had her chief architect Richard Mique build the Petit Trianon. This site, with the circular Temple d'Amour, was used for royal entertaining. In 1781 Hubert Robert was called in to build a rocher, the source of the stream that meanders throughout the grounds.