Henri Labrouste facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henri Labrouste
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| Born | 11 May 1801 Paris
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| Died | 24 June 1875 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | French |
| Alma mater | École des Beaux-Arts |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | Prix de Rome 1824 |
| Projects | Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève |
Henri Labrouste (born May 11, 1801 – died June 24, 1875) was a famous French architect. He was known for his smart designs and for being one of the first to use iron in buildings. He studied at the important École des Beaux-Arts school in Paris. After spending six years studying in Rome, he opened his own workshop. This workshop became famous for its new and logical way of thinking about architecture.
Early Life and Education
Henri Labrouste was born in Paris, France. He was one of five children. His father, Alexandre Labrouste, was a lawyer and politician. Henri started school at the Collège Sainte-Barbe in 1809. Later, in 1819, he joined the École Royale des Beaux Arts. This was a very important art and architecture school.
In 1820, he moved up to the top class at the school. He competed for the Grand Prix, a major award for young artists. In 1821, he won second place in this competition. In 1823, he won another prize from his local area. He also worked on the construction of a church in Paris.
In 1824, Labrouste won the top prize, the Prix de Rome. This award allowed him to travel to Italy to study ancient buildings. He visited many cities like Turin, Milan, and Florence.
In 1835, a sad event happened in Paris. An attempt was made to harm King Louis-Philippe. Henri Labrouste was there, and sadly, his father was one of the people who died during this event.
Time in Rome and Important Ideas
After winning the Prix de Rome, Henri Labrouste lived in Rome for five years. He stayed at the Medici Villa, which was a place for French artists to study. The French government supported him during this time. The leaders of the Académie française, who oversaw these studies, wanted the artists to learn from ancient buildings. They wanted them to find the "laws of proportion" to help future architects.
Labrouste's time in Rome helped him develop his unique style. He believed in using new materials like iron in his designs. He was one of the first architects to truly understand how important iron could be for building strong and open spaces.
His work was later shown in a special exhibition in New York City. This show, called "Henri Labrouste: Structure Brought to Light," was the first time his work had a solo exhibition in the United States.
Famous Buildings
Henri Labrouste designed some very famous buildings in Paris. These buildings are known for their beautiful use of iron and their grand spaces.
- Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève: This library was built between 1843 and 1850. It is famous for its large, open reading room with a visible iron frame.
- Salle Labrouste: This is a reading room inside the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. It was built between 1862 and 1868. It also features a stunning iron structure that allows for a lot of light and space.
These buildings show how Labrouste combined classic architectural ideas with new building methods. He helped change how buildings were designed in the 19th century.
See also
In Spanish: Henri Labrouste para niños
