Jacques-Germain Soufflot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacques-Germain Soufflot
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Portrait by Louis-Michel van Loo
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| Born | 22 July 1713 |
| Died | 29 August 1780 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Architect |
Jacques-Germain Soufflot (born July 22, 1713 – died August 29, 1780) was a famous French architect. He was part of a group of architects who brought in a new style called neoclassicism. This style used ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Soufflot's most well-known building is the Panthéon in Paris. It was started in 1755. At first, it was built as a church for Saint Genevieve, a patron saint of Paris.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Soufflot was born in a town called Irancy, near Auxerre in France. In the 1730s, he went to the French Academy in Rome. This was a special school where young French artists and architects studied.
While in Rome, Soufflot studied old Roman buildings. He was more interested in the ancient ruins than the newer, fancy Baroque buildings of his time. He learned a lot from these old structures.
Work in Lyon
After his studies, Soufflot returned to France. He started working in the city of Lyon. One of his first big projects was the Hôtel-Dieu. This building was a hospital. He designed its riverside front to look simple and elegant.
He also worked on the Temple du Change. This was an old market building from the 1500s. Soufflot completely redesigned it. He added a strong, simple row of arches supported by Doric columns. His work in Lyon helped him become a member of the Lyon Academy.
Return to Italy and Royal Projects
In 1750, Soufflot went back to Italy. This time, he traveled with the future Marquis de Marigny. Marigny was the talented younger brother of Madame de Pompadour, a very important person in the French court. Marigny was preparing to become the director of the King's Buildings (Bâtiments du Roi).
During this trip, Soufflot paid special attention to theaters. He studied how they were built. In 1755, Marigny became the new Director General of Royal Buildings. He put Soufflot in charge of all royal buildings in Paris. In the same year, Soufflot joined the Royal Academy of Architecture. A year later, in 1756, an opera house he designed opened in Lyon.
The Panthéon and Soufflot's Style
The Panthéon is Soufflot's most famous building. It is a grand and impressive structure in Paris. He also designed the Hôtel Marigny (1768–1771) for his young patron, Marigny. This building showed more of Soufflot's personal style.
Soufflot passed away in Paris in 1780. He is buried in the Panthéon, next to Voltaire, a famous French writer.
Soufflot believed that the classical style was very important for architecture. He was known for his "strictness of line" and "simplicity of contour." This means his buildings had clear, straight lines and simple shapes. His style was very different from the fancy and decorated Baroque and Rococo buildings that were popular at the time.
Images for kids
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Portrait by Louis-Michel van Loo
See also
In Spanish: Jacques-Germain Soufflot para niños
