French+Revolution+Architecture

 Architecture

Claude Nicolas Ledoux, who lived from 1736 to 1806, was the prominent architect of the French Revolution. His style was classic and utopian, and was criticized for being radical in his times. Now it is seen as visionary and bold and fascinates many art historians. Architecture in England influenced Ledoux, as he used simple yet commanding geometric forms in his works.

He was the architect of the Ideal City of Chaux, and many palaces for the aristocrats along with public townhouses and tollgates around Paris. In 1764, Ledoux was working for the Department of Water and Forests, designing anything from cemeteries to roads to schools. Later on, however, he became involved with aristocrats and became the prominent architect of Paris. He built private townhouses for the wealthy, and a theatre and pavillion for Mademoiselle Guimard and Madama du Barry, celebrated dancers. This commision set his new reputation in stone. In the late 1780's, Ledouxdesigned a wall around Paris with numerous custom posts. Unfortunately, most of them were destroyed in the Revolution. The Revolution proved to be troublesome for Ledoux's career, for he lost many of his rich clients when they fled the chaos. Some of his buildings were destroyed, and finally he was arrested during the Reign of Terror, and thrown in prison.    Some surviving works are : Pavilion Hocquart (1764–70) Château de Bénouville, Normandy (1770) Chateau for Madame du Barry at Louveciennes (1771–73] the saline de Chaux was one of the most celebrated factory towns of its time <span style="COLOR: #871c1c; FONT-FAMILY: Impact, Charcoal, sans-serif"><span style="COLOR: #a51222; FONT-FAMILY: Impact, Charcoal, sans-serif"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 160%; COLOR: #a81010; FONT-FAMILY: Impact, Charcoal, sans-serif">