BACHELIER, Nicolas
(b. 1500, Arras, d. 1557, Toulouse)

Exterior view

1555
Photo
Hôtel d'Assézat, Toulouse

This magnificent mansion was built for a wealthy merchant, Pierre d'Assézat who made his fortune through the trade of pastel in the sixteenth century. He entrusted the construction to one of the most famous Toulouse architects, Nicolas Bachelier. There is no clear evidence about the authorship of the court of this hôtel, the most original work produced in Toulouse at this time (built between 1552 and 1562), the author was probably Bachelier. The only point that can be established is that the architect was familiar with the treatise of Serlio, since the elevation is largely composed from plates of his book. Whoever the architect may be, however, he must rank with Lescot and Delorme as one of the creators of the classical style of the middle of the century, and his influence seems to have been wide among architects in Toulouse.

The exact extent of Bachelier's role in the construction of the courtyard is unclear: he seems to have provided only the sculptural decoration (1555–58), while the brick shell was entrusted to the master-mason Jean Castagné.

The photo shows the courtyard two sides of which have a three-level elevation superimposing the three classical orders (Ionic order, Doric order, Corinthian order); it takes up the hierarchy of orders established by the treatise of Serlio. The imposing stair tower on the corner rises high enough to be visible in the distance. With the loggia, we find all the elements that make up a mansion of the Renaissance period.




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