The Palace at Versailles

The Palace at Versailles. Versailles, France. Louis Le Vau and Jules Hardouin- Mansart (architects). Begun 1669 C.E. Masonry, stone, wood, iron, and gold leaf (architecture); marble and bronze (sculpture); gardens.

• KING OF FRANCE, XIV, 1664-1710; FRENCH NOBILITY THAT LED TO FRENCH REVOLUTION; LOUIS LE VAU (ARCHITECT) AND ANDRE LE NOTRE (LANDSCAPE DESIGNER); COMPLETED IN 21 YRS; 20,000 SERVANTS, SOLDIERS, FAMILY, ETC; 700 ROOMS.
• MEANT TO EMPHASIZE LOUIS’S IMPORTANCE; FILLED WITH SCULPTURE, PAINTING, FOUNTAINS; FOCUSED ON HIMSELF
• CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE; SYMMETRICAL, REPETITIVE; BASIC ELEMENTS FROM ANCIENT GREEK TEMPLES; ANCIENT PAST SEEN AS THE ROOT OF INTELLECTUAL AND AESTHETIC SUPERIORITY; BELIEVE THEY HAD DESCENDED TO THE FRENCH NATION; LOUIS LIKED LINKING HIMSELF TO THE SUN GOD APOLLO; PALACE DESIGNED TO GLORIFY THE FRENCH MONARCH BY INCORPORATING BOTH ORNATE BAROQUE DECORATION AND THE STRICTER RULES OF CLASSICISM THAT EXPRESS HIS INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL STATURE