Background
Jules Hardouin-Mansart was born in Paris, France on April 16, 1646.
Jules Hardouin-Mansart was born in Paris, France on April 16, 1646.
He studied under his renowned great-uncle François Mansart, one of the originators of the classical tradition in French architecture; Hardouin inherited Mansart's collection of plans and drawings and adopted his well-regarded name. He also learned from Libéral Bruant, architect of the royal veteran's hospital in Paris known as Les Invalides.
Mansart gained the favor of Louis XIV and in 1699 was appointed court architect. His first work under royal patronage had to do with the remodeling of the Château de Saint-Germain.
Then he began work on the great palace of Versailles where, among other portions, he designed the chapel, the famous Galerie des Glaces, and the Orangerie.
Perhaps his outstanding achievement is the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris, the dome of which is considered one of the finest constructions of the French Renaissance. Mansart designed the Place Vendôme and the Place des Victoires, both of which are in Paris, and, with Germain Boffrand, designed the cathedral at Nancy.