Baroque Architecture in Paris

Paris

Ste Marie de la Visitation, Francois Mansart, 1632
French baroque is generally similar in style to Italian Baroque. It features all the main elements outlined in the last blog post - recession, protrusion, unity, convex shapes, what were previously integral architectural structures now rendered just for decoration, etc... One difference is perhaps how plain the dome is - Italians love a decorated dome...



Vaux - le Vicomte, Louis le Vau, 1657-61

This palace was built for the treasurer of Louis XIV. After Louis saw the end result, he had Fouquet sent to prison and replaced because he had the cheek to make himself a nice house...He took it for himself.

This building is bound to be different to a lot of the Italian buildings in the post before because it is not for religious purposes. However, the true symbolism of this piece of architecture is how France was seemingly trying not to flat-out copy Rome; although it has an element of verticality there are some subtle differences.

Hard to see from this picture, but the building is actually surrounded by a moat-like thingy. It is a reference back to Medieval times (I imagine it's because France were powerful then, kind of like a consolidation of their power carrying on...). However, unlike a medieval chateau, the structure is not based on a central courtyard.

The sheer size of the place is intimidating enough let alone the fact that 3 whole villages were 'removed' to build it!

Versailles

• Garden façade

Less elaborate than Italian baroque, conscious not to copy the excessiveness of Italy and wanted a national identity.

• Hall of Mirrors, Jules Hardouin Mansart, 1678

I would love to visit here, my lecturer made a comment that many people visiting here would never have seen their reflection in a full length mirror before - weird!!



'Le roi govern per lui-meme' an attribute to Louis XIV and testament to this place in both art and architecture . It was one big declaration of the monarch's absolute power.

Louvre

The Louvre is known as "the old Louvre" and "the new Louvre". The newest additions are the wings and pavilions that extend to the side - largely at the hand of Le Vau and Andre Le Notre. On the basis of nationalism, Bernini was known to have submitted a design for the extension of the eastern wing but was rejected and Perrault was employed instead.