Pierre Lescot
Pierre Lescot was born in Paris during the early 1500s. He did not emerge from a family of masons or builders with practical experience. His father held the title of seigneur and owned lands at Lissy-en-Brie and Clagny near Versailles. These estates later passed to Pierre himself. This noble background set him apart from most architects of his time who learned their trade through apprenticeships. Instead, he devoted his youth to drawing and painting. After reaching the age of twenty, he turned his attention toward mathematics and architecture. His wealth allowed him to pursue these studies without the financial pressures that constrained many of his peers.
King Francis I of France appointed Pierre Lescot as the architect responsible for building projects at the Palais du Louvre. A contract dated 1551 formalized this role. The king chose Lescot over an alternative design proposed by the Italian architect Sebastiano Serlio. Lescot envisioned enclosing three sides of a square courtyard with elaborate apartments. The eastern side facing the city likely remained lightly enclosed with an arcade. Festive corner pavilions of impressive height were planned to replace medieval towers. Despite this grand vision, little progress occurred elsewhere beyond demolishing parts of the old feudal structure. Only the west side and part of the south side were completed before his death.
Constructed between 1546 and 1551, the Lescot Wing stands as the present southwest wing of the Cour Carré. It features two stories topped by an attic adorned with Jean Goujon's richly detailed bas-relief panels. A sloping roof crowns the structure, serving as a traditional French architectural element suited to a rainy climate. Deeply recessed arch-headed windows on the ground floor create the impression of an arcade. Slender fluted pilasters divide the windows on the second floor. These windows alternate between triangular and arched pediments. The central and end pavilions project outward, each crowned by small round oeil de boeuf windows. The ground-floor Salle des Caryatides from 1546 to 1549 remains a notable surviving feature named for four caryatid figures supporting a musicians' gallery.
Lescot designed the Fontaine des Innocents between 1547 and 1549. This fountain replaced an ancient public one for the entry of Henry II into Paris in 1549. It originally stood against a wall until it was rearranged as a free-standing fountain in 1788. Augustin Pajou sculpted a fourth face during that later rearrangement. He also created the Hôtel de Ligneris between 1548 and 1550. That building now houses the Musée Carnavalet after extensive modifications by François Mansart. His earliest works included a rood screen at Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois completed between 1540 and 1545. Only some sculptures by Jean Goujon have survived from that early commission. He was also responsible for designing the Château de Vallery.
All known works by Pierre Lescot feature sculptural decoration by Trebatti and Jean Goujon. These artists collaborated with him on the Louvre project. The integration of their work into his architectural designs remains skillful throughout the surviving structures. Goujon's sculptural contributions appear prominently within the Salle des Caryatides and other areas of the wing. Trebatti provided additional decorative elements across multiple commissions. This pattern of collaboration distinguishes his career from many contemporaries who worked more independently. The partnership allowed for a unified aesthetic where architecture and sculpture function as a single entity rather than separate components.
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Common questions
When was Pierre Lescot born and what was his family background?
Pierre Lescot was born in Paris during the early 1500s. He did not emerge from a family of masons or builders with practical experience but instead came from a noble family where his father held the title of seigneur.
What role did King Francis I assign to Pierre Lescot at the Palais du Louvre?
King Francis I of France appointed Pierre Lescot as the architect responsible for building projects at the Palais du Louvre. A contract dated 1551 formalized this role after the king chose Lescot over an alternative design proposed by Sebastiano Serlio.
Which parts of the Cour Carré were completed by Pierre Lescot before his death?
Only the west side and part of the south side of the courtyard were completed before Pierre Lescot died. Constructed between 1546 and 1551, the Lescot Wing stands as the present southwest wing of the Cour Carré.
Who collaborated with Pierre Lescot on sculptural decoration for his major works?
All known works by Pierre Lescot feature sculptural decoration by Trebatti and Jean Goujon. These artists collaborated with him on the Louvre project and their work appears prominently within the Salle des Caryatides.
When was the Fontaine des Innocents designed by Pierre Lescot constructed?
Pierre Lescot designed the Fontaine des Innocents between 1547 and 1549. This fountain replaced an ancient public one for the entry of Henry II into Paris in 1549.