MANSART, François
(b. 1598, Paris, d. 1666, Paris)

View of the Hôtel de la Vrillière

begun 1635
Engraving
Bibliothèque National, Paris

In 1635 Mansart received his first recorded commission for a private house in Paris. Louis Phélypeaux de La Vrillière, an officer of the crown, commissioned Mansart to build a town house in Paris (rebuilt by Robert de Cotte in 1713). The building, known from engravings, was a fine example of Mansart's ability to arrive at subtle, ingenious, and dignified solutions to the problems of building on awkwardly shaped sites. His design was to be a model for the Parisian hôtel for many decades.

The engraving by Jean Marot shows the general view of the hôtel.

View the ground plan of the Hôtel.




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