Jacques Gabriel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1667 |
| Died | 23 April 1742(1742-04-23) (aged 74–75) |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Children | Ange-Jacques Gabriel |
| Parent | Jacques Gabriel |
Jacques Gabriel (1667 – 23 April 1742) was a French architect, the father of the famousAnge-Jacques Gabriel. Jacques Gabriel was a designer, painter and architect of the 17th and 18th centuries and one of the most prominent designers of thePalace of Versailles in his lifetime. For his unique creativity and selflessness, he was always attended byLouis XIV and eventually became a trusted advisor to the monarch. He made important contributions to him during his years of service of which the construction of the Palace of Versailles was the most important.
He had a mission to build the palace throughout his life and was also the first designer of the bridges in Paris. Gabriel's son Ange-Jacques Gabriel continued his father's journey and in this regard, like his father, completed the Palace of Versailles in reign ofLouis XV.
His mother was a cousin ofJules Hardouin-Mansart and his father, also named Jacques Gabriel, was a masonry contractor for theBâtiments du Roi, the French royal works, and the designer of theChâteau de Choisy for the king's cousin,Anne D'Orléans.
The younger Jacques Gabriel was appointed one of thecontrolleurs généraux at theBâtiments du Roi in 1688, at the age of 21. Two years later he was sent to accompanyRobert de Cotte on an eighteen-month sojourn in Italy, sharpening his eye, and on his return was made one of theAutres Architectes in theBâtiments du Roi, where he proved an efficient administrator. He was made a member of theAcadémie royale d'architecture at Mansart's reorganization of that body in 1699.
Pierre-Jean Mariette, who knew him well says that he was "expert in the conduct of building, but he could not have drawn the least jot of ornament".[1]: p.61, a For designers of ornament, Gabriel relied onPierre Lepautre and after Lepautre's death, onJean Aubert, another designer trained in theBâtiments du Roi.[1]: p.131
Gabriel succeeded Robert de Cotte asPremier Architecte du Roi of de Cotte's retirement in December 1734 and held the post until he was succeeded by his "vastly more gifted"[1] son,Ange-Jacques Gabriel in 1742.
Gabriel's work in Paris has been much remodelled.Pierre-Jean Mariette'sArchitecture françoise offers plates illustrating severalhôtels particuliers by Gabriel. He completed thePalais Bourbon (begun by Giardini, continued byPierre Cailleteau Lassurance). He completed theHôtel de Lassay nearby. He was responsible for theHôtel Peyrenc de Moras (de Biron), 1728–31.
^a "Il étoit expert dans la conduite du bâtiment, mais il n'auroit pas pu dessiner le moindre bout d'ornement";(inFrench).
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
