Louis Le Vau
Louis Le Vau | |
|---|---|
Louis Le Vau, c. 1650 | |
| Born | Louis Le Veau c. 1612 |
| Died | 11 October 1670 (aged 57 or 58) |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings | |
| Design | Oval salon at Vaux-le-Vicomte |
Louis Le Vau (French pronunciation: [lwi l(ə) vo]; c. 1612 – 11 October 1670) was a French Baroque architect, who worked for King Louis XIV, the Sun King. Contemporary of both François Mansart and Jacques Lemercier, Louis Le Vau was one of the founders of the French Classical style in the 17th century (Classicisme français), skillfully blending it with Baroque influences.
He developed a style marked by the simplicity of structures and the elegance of ornamentation. His masterpiece remains the Vaux-le-Vicomte castle, though he also contributed to the early plans for the Palace of Versailles.
His brother, François Le Vau (1613–1676), served as the architect of Saint-Louis-en-l’Île Church in Paris.