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Church of the Val-de-Grâce: Detailed exterior view of dome

Date

Circa 1910

Creator

G. Massiot & cie
Part of: Architectural Lantern Slides of France
Architecture Library, Hesburgh Libraries

In 1645 Mansart was appointed by the queen, Anne of Austria, to add a church and palace to the convent of the Val-de-Grâce, which she frequently visited on retreat. For this project Mansart devised a highly imaginative scheme based on the Escorial in Spain, where Anne had spent her youth. His design for the church was original in many respects, with bell-towers flanking the nave and a projecting single-storey entrance portico, more reminiscent of his château frontispieces than of a conventional church front. The portico was possibly influenced by that on the north side of Jacques Le Mercier's church of the Sorbonne (1635-1648). The plan of the church of the Val-de-Grâce is characterized by a dominant central domed space at the crossing, surrounded by three equal apses for the choir and transepts, a layout reminiscent of that adopted by Andrea Palladio for Il Redentore (1576-1580), Venice, where there is a similar play on circular forms. The whole of the domed space is located in a square block that projects slightly beyond the walls of the nave. After work on the scheme had proceeded for a year, Mansart was dismissed. Nevertheless, although the palace was never built, the church itself was begun under his direction, and he was responsible for the walls of the nave, with their giant Corinthian pilasters, up to the entablature, and for the lower storey of the façade.

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Metadata

Creator
G. Massiot & cie
Date
Circa 1910
Publisher
Architecture Library, Hesburgh Libraries
Material Type
photographs
Conditions Governing Access
To view the physical lantern slide, please contact the Architecture Library to arrange an appointment
Related Location
Paris, Île-de-France, France: 5th arrondissement: Rue Saint-Jacques

Metadata

Campus Location
Architecture Library, Hesburgh Libraries
Link to Finding Aid
https://curate.nd.edu/show/td96k072953
This digital collection may not include all items or all of the information available about the source collection. See the finding aid for more information.

Metadata

Contact Us

Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Architecture Library, Hesburgh Libraries at asklib@nd.edu.


Also from Architectural Lantern Slides of France

Church of the Cordeliers: Raking view of the plain facade with rose window

Church of the Cordeliers: Raking view of the plain facade with rose window

Chateau-L'eveque: Partial view of one wing and turret

Chateau-L'eveque: Partial view of one wing and turret

Chateau Ferney: Raking view of garden side facade

Chateau Ferney: Raking view of garden side facade

Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey: Distant context view of Abbey on top of the mount, with fortification walls and buildings of the surrounding village

Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey: Distant context view of Abbey on top of the mount, with fortification walls and buildings of the surrounding village

Fortified town of Aigues-Mortes: Detail, main gate in the southern wall

Fortified town of Aigues-Mortes: Detail, main gate in the southern wall

Château de Chinon: Detail, top of Tour d'Horlge, the clock tower

Château de Chinon: Detail, top of Tour d'Horlge, the clock tower

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