arch 4103

art & architecture V

BAROQUE architecture
Palace of Versailles, France
Architect: Louis Le Vau,
Painter: Charles le Brun
Landscape architect: Andre le Notre
Construction started: 1669 AD

• Largest palace in France built by King Louis

XIV (known as the Sun King).
• Accommodation capacity for 5000 people.
• Accommodation for 14000 soldiers and servants
in the surrounding areas.
• Served as the Royal residence from 1682 to
1789.
• Versailles was not even a town then, just had a
Hunting Lodge built by King Louis XIII.
• 37000 acres of land cleared to accommodate
the complex.
• Grand canal at the center ( 1737 yard long, 67
yards wide).
• 1400 fountains and 400 sculptures.
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
 arch 4103
art & architecture V

Arch 4103: Art & Architecture V. Course Teacher: Arefeen Ibrahim

 arch 4103
art & architecture V
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture
• The Old Chateau: Built by Louis
XIII, father of Louis XIV. A small
hunting lodge, built of brick, stone
and slate.

• The New Chateau: Built by Louis

XIV and designed by Louis le Vau
from 1668-1670.

• The old chateau was enveloped by

a second building with white stone
facades, appropriate for a fine
garden setting. But this was
criticized by some as the beautiful
and the ugly compared to the old
one.

• A Central terrace was designed and

built by Francois d'Orbay after Le
Vau's death.
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture
• In 1682 Versailles became the official
residence.

• The terrace was transformed into the

famous Hall of Mirrors.

• North and South wings were added to the

building by architect Hardouin Mansart.

• Royal Chapel and Opera were

accommodated in the South wing.

• Hall of Mirrors is in the central part. 17

large windows facing the garden on west.

• Opposite to each window a matching

Venetian mirror imported from Venice.

• The walls of this hall are decorated with

white and colored marble and gilded
bronze.
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture

• June 28, 1919: the Versailles treaty

ending World War I was signed in
this hall.
• On both ends of this hall is a large
square room: Room of War and
Room of Peace.
• Behind the Hall of Mirrors are the
King's and Queen's apartments
which are richly decorated with
paintings and furniture.
• The South wing houses the Gallery
of Battles now.
• Horse-shoe shaped royal stables
were added far from the main
building on the eastern part.
• During the reign of Louis XVI, a
small farm village was constructed
adjacent to the palace to please the
Queen. the Queen and other Court
Ladies would occasionally pass time
in the village pretending they were
peasant woman.
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture
St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Architect: Sir Christopher Wren
Construction: 1675-1710

Old St. Paul’s Church was built by the Normans from

1087-1310.
It was the largest church in England and the third
largest in Europe.
Before getting struck by lightning in 1561, the church
had the highest steeple in England.
1666: It was completely destroyed by the Great
London Fire that burnt down four-fifths of the
whole city.
1668: Wren invited to submit proposal for a new
cathedral.
1669: Wren's earliest proposal that was imagined to
be built on the earlier foundation. But it was
deemed too modest and the scale was not
considered big enough in the city's context. So it
was abandoned.
 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture
St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Architect: Sir Christopher Wren
Construction: 1675-1710

1670-72: Wren produced a "greek-cross" design for the

cathedral. It was centrally planned. The main
interior space was beneath a vast dome and the
subsidiary spaces were located radially
around the sides. A smaller dome was placed
near the entrance portico. This scheme was favored
by Wren himself but the clergy rejected it because
of the "too-original" centralized plan to which they
were not used to at that time in England.

Arch 4103: Art & Architecture V. Course Teacher: Arefeen Ibrahim

 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture

Arch 4103: Art & Architecture V. Course Teacher: Arefeen Ibrahim

 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture

• 1674-75: This scheme is in response to

the criticism on earlier proposals. The plan is
now longitudinal. Nave and choir flanked by lower
aisles. Entry towers and central spire like that of
medieval English churches. This was an
arrangement that was conventional and familiar to
the church people. This "Warrant-Design" was
approved by Charles II.
• 1675: Construction work started.
• 1710: Wren witnessed his son laying the last
stone of this building that completes the
construction of St. Peter's Cathedral.
• The plan though still longitudinal, was subtly altered
to emphasize the central space beneath the dome.
• The exterior facade rises full two storey high,
though the aisles were lower in height than the
nave. This creates a screen for the flying
buttressed that support the nave roof and choir
vaults and are thus hidden from the view.

Arch 4103: Art & Architecture V. Course Teacher: Arefeen Ibrahim

 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture
Since a warrant was issued by the king giving
Wren the authority to make changes
(mostly ornamental) to his design during
the construction phase that might be
deemed necessary by him.

Wren fully exploited this opportunity to

redesign and the cathedral when finally
was complete looked much different in
almost every aspect than the scheme
that was approved by the King and
looked more similar to the "domed
version".

Thus the design history of St. Paul's reveals

the doggedness of Christopher Wren to
pursue his artistic vision and crown the
London skyline with a great domed
church.

Arch 4103: Art & Architecture V. Course Teacher: Arefeen Ibrahim

 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture

A tall dome on drum was raised over the

crossing, which in many aspect
resembles Bramante's dome on
Tempietto. The dome is 365' high.

The dome has three shells inside. The outer

one is much higher than the innermost
one that is visible from interior. And in
between these two layers is a third one
of brick that supports the stone lantern
above.

Arch 4103: Art & Architecture V. Course Teacher: Arefeen Ibrahim

 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture
The towers with their concave and convex interplay of
facade and the curved porticos on the transept fronts
remind of Borromini's work.
The entrance portico has paired Corinthian columns that
support the entablature and pediment on top of it.
Baroque ornamentation is present in the interior.

Arch 4103: Art & Architecture V. Course Teacher: Arefeen Ibrahim

 arch 4103
art & architecture V
BAROQUE architecture
Nelson and Wellington, the greatest
sailor and the greatest soldier of
England lay side by side in the
center of this cathedral beneath
the dome.

Among many other significant events,

it hosted the wedding ceremony
of Princess Diana with Prince
Charles and the funeral of
Winston Churchill.

Wren found his own eternal resting

place in the cathedral he built
and needs no monument but
his magnificent work to
preserve his name.

Arch 4103: Art & Architecture V. Course Teacher: Arefeen Ibrahim

 GOOD BYE

BAROQUE
architecture