Pantheon inside

BUILDING DESIGN TERMS
For a short guide to terminology
see: Architecture Glossary.

Soufflot's Architecture

One of the greatest architects in 18th century France, Jacques Germain Soufflot was an early representative of the new school of Neoclassical architecture, which originated in France, where classical motifs had started to appear in designs at the end of Louis XVI's reign, in a bid to reintroduce the gravitas of Roman architecture after the indulgence of Rococo.

Jacques germain soufflot biography of barack trump Read Edit View history. This act of architectural vandalism succeeded in transforming a beautifully light and airy interior into a gloomy mausoleum. He was accepted into the Lyon Academy. A contemporary of Claude Nicolas Ledoux , Soufflot was also fascinated by the brilliant lightness of Gothic architecture , and in the design of the Pantheon he used medieval techniques to achieve Neoclassical ends.

He is best known for designing The Pantheon in Paris (), a major exemplar of lateth century architecture and a highlight of the European Grand Tour. The building was designed as a church dedicated to Sainte Genevieve before being converted into a memorial for famous people. A contemporary of Claude Nicolas Ledoux (), Soufflot was also fascinated by the brilliant lightness of Gothic architecture, and in the design of the Pantheon he used medieval techniques to achieve Neoclassical ends.

A hugely influential design, it helped to popularize classical designs (especially Greek architecture) in the New World.

Biography

Born in Irancy, Auxerre, Soufflot attended the French Academy in Rome (), where he also studied the classical monuments, as well as Renaissance architecture by designers like Andrea Palladio (), and examples of Italian Baroque architecture like St Peter's Basilica ().

He also met a number of fashionable Rococo artists and their patrons, including Abel-Francois Poisson de Vandieres () - better known as the Marquis de Marigny - who happened to be the brother of King Louis XV's influential mistress Madame de Pompadour, and with whom he later toured Italy.

Jacques germain soufflot biography of barack gas In addition to those architects cited above, the best known designers of the Neoclassical movement together with their building designs included:. In other projects. Conceived, designed and built as a church for St Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris - it was taken over during the French Revolution, and converted into a monument honouring famous French men and women. Like all the architects of his day, Soufflot considered the classical idiom essential.

In Soufflot left Rome and returned to Lyon, where he began practising as an architect. His simple, severe yet spacious designs, complete with their accurate rendering of classical detail (Doric columns, arcades, loggia) are exemplified in such works as the Hotel Dieu extension (started ), and the Loge des Changes ().

In he was elected a member of the Lyon Academy.

In , the Marquis de Marigny - who had taken over the position of Director General of the Royal Buildings (directeur general des Batiments du Roi), after the death of Le Normant de Tournehem in - called Soufflot to Paris and gave him the prestigious commission for the new Church of Sainte-Genevieve () - intended to be Paris's largest church.

It was to be built in the new Neoclassical style - a bold decision at the time. He was also elected a member of the Parisian Royal Academy of Fine Arts.

Jacques germain soufflot biography of barack obama A contemporary of Claude Nicolas Ledoux , Soufflot was also fascinated by the brilliant lightness of Gothic architecture , and in the design of the Pantheon he used medieval techniques to achieve Neoclassical ends. During his time in Lyon, Soufflot left significant impact on the architectural landscape. This act of architectural vandalism succeeded in transforming a beautifully light and airy interior into a gloomy mausoleum. Here, Soufflot combined the ancient and Renaissance classicism he saw while traveling in Italy with the monumentality of the Baroque style to create a massive church with a colossal columned portico that supports a triangular pediment.

A lesser-known but perhaps more individual work of Soufflot's is the Hotel Marigny (), built opposite the Elysee Palace. At the same time, he also continued working in Lyon. In , for instance, he completed his redesign of the city's opera house.

The Pantheon (Paris)

The Pantheon's most famous feature, its foot high dome - based on the dome above St Paul's Cathedral, designed by Christopher Wren () - towers above the Greek-cross floor-plan ( feet long by feet wide), while its strict neoclassical design is exemplified by the Corinthian temple-front (based on the Pantheon in Rome).

Inside, Soufflot's basic idea was to combine monumental classical vaulting with Gothic-style slender supports and Corinthian columns. Conceived, designed and built as a church for St Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris - it was taken over during the French Revolution, and converted into a monument honouring famous French men and women.

Jacques germain soufflot biography of barack It was to be built in the new Neoclassical style - a bold decision at the time. The Pantheon Paris The Pantheon's most famous feature, its foot high dome - based on the dome above St Paul's Cathedral, designed by Christopher Wren - towers above the Greek-cross floor-plan feet long by feet wide , while its strict neoclassical design is exemplified by the Corinthian temple-front based on the Pantheon in Rome. Paris , Kingdom of France. A contemporary of Claude Nicolas Ledoux , Soufflot was also fascinated by the brilliant lightness of Gothic architecture , and in the design of the Pantheon he used medieval techniques to achieve Neoclassical ends.

Sadly, during the conversion, the original windows were removed along with much of the decoration. This act of architectural vandalism succeeded in transforming a beautifully light and airy interior into a gloomy mausoleum. Soufflot died in Paris in

Other Leading Neoclassical Architects

In addition to those architects cited above, the best known designers of the Neoclassical movement (together with their building designs) included:

Britain
John Nash ()
Designed numerous blocks in London.
Sir John Soane ()
Bank of England.
Sir Robert Smirke ()
British Museum

France
Claude Nicolas Ledoux ()
Designer of the Royal Saltworks, Arc-et-Senans.
Jean Chalgrin ()
Arc de Triomphe, Paris.

Germany
Carl Gotthard Langhans ()
Designed Brandenburg Gate, Berlin.
Karl Friedrich Schinkel ()
Altes Museum, Berlin.

Russia
Charles Cameron (c&#;)
Pavlovsk Palace, Tsarskoye Selo.

Spain
Juan de Villanueva ()
Designed Prado Museum in Madrid.

United States
Thomas Jefferson ()
Designed the Virginia State Capitol and Monticello.
William Thornton ()
One of the designers of the US Capitol Building.
Benjamin Latrobe ()
Designer of the Baltimore Basilica.
Charles Bulfinch ()
Designed the Massachusetts State House.