Ange-Jacques Gabriel: Louis XV's Premier Architect

Ange-Jacques Gabriel by Jean-Baptiste Greuze

Ange-Jacques Gabriel (October 23, 1698 – January 4, 1782) was born into a family of great architects, succeeding his father, Jacques Gabriel, as the premier architect of France in 1742. 

During his tenure he oversaw the transition from the ornate Rococo period to the order & simplicity of Neoclassicism driven by the belief that progress depends upon reason and discipline.

His love of symmetry and classical proportion is reflected in many of his creations from the minute French Pavilion (completed 1750) to the enormous Château de Versailles (including extensive palace renovations starting in 1735 & the addition of the Royal Opera 1769-1770).

For me, one of the many delights of re-creating his buildings are discovering the false doors which have been placed "just so" to maintain the symmetrical appearance of a room.  Equally fascinating are the "secret" doors that are blended into the walls for the same reason. I stumbled upon this technique for the first time while constructing  The Billard Room of the Petit Trianon.

The Château de Compiègne seen from the garden (Wikipedia)

His major works included the Château de Compiègne (1750+) and a number of hôtels particuliers in the Place de la Concorde.

The Petit Trianon (1762-1768) is perhaps his most celebrated achievement.

Académie Royale de Musique: November 2011

The Académie Royale de Musique in conjunction with the Duché de Coeur is pleased to present the following events for November 2011. 

November 06: Elvera Lerner with a Julie Andrews Tribute
November 06: SaraMarie Philly
November 06: Adevina Citron
November 06: WaltKeys Faith

November 11: Adevina Citron
November 11: Chris Fredrikkson

November 12: Lauren Ilo
November 12: The Balladeer
November 12: Tukso Okey

November 13: Benski Korhonen

November 20: Lauren Ilo

November 26: SaraMarie Philly
November 26: Lauren Ilo
November 26: The Balladeer
November 26: Kitty Zeddmore
November 26: Benski Korhonen

November 27: Yuki Hutchinson

Please follow the links for detailed information including times & SL® locations

Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion SL

The French Pavilion - My SL Virtual Rendition

As recounted in my post regarding the real life (RL) version, (Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion RL) the French Pavilion (le pavillon français) was designed by the Louis XV’s chief architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the instigation of Madame Pompadour. This miniature palace was intended as a summer gaming room with an attached salon frais or summer dining room. Thirty years later, Marie Antoinette would also use it for private concerts given by lantern light.

My virtual re-creation of the French Pavilion for Second Life ® was true labour of love. It took me almost three months to painstakingly create the textures and to piece together all of those 45 degree angled walls!

The floor plan is as close to the original as was practical for Second Life ®. I did take some liberties with the one room which is supposed to be divided by an interior wall to create a separate wash closet and café as it was just too small a space to be useful. I also substituted a lighter rendition of the inlaid marble floor as the original seemed just too dark for my modern taste (my apologies to Gabriel!).

The paneled walls for the kitchen and café are based on the actual panels in the Salon of the Petit Trianon while the ceiling textures, with their cherubs, are a flight of fancy.

The French Pavilion is open to the public, please feel free drop by and visit at Le Jardin Français of the Petit Trianon.  If you would like to own your own SL copy, it is available to purchase at the site inworld or on the Second Life Marketplace at TTR-The French Pavilion.

Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion RL

The French Pavilion 2009.  Photo by Stefan of ArchitectDesign™

The French Pavilion (le pavillon français) which now stands as the central gem of the Petit Trianon’s formal French Gardens was actually completed in 1750, a few years prior to the building of the Petit Trianon itself.

The French Pavilion 2009. Photo by Stefan of ArchitectDesign™

Designed by the Louis XV’s chief architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel at the instigation of Madame Pompadour this miniature palace was intended as a summer gaming/dining room. Thirty years later, Marie Antoinette would also use it for private concerts given by lantern light.

The main salon is octagonal with an inlaid marble floor and is surrounded by four cabinets in a cruciform arrangement. The walls are gilded with cherubs highlighting each entrance. Cherubs & birds are also featured on the circular cornice which is supported by eight Corinthian columns. Four arched French doors provide light, exterior views and access

French Pavilion Floor Plan from Views and Plans of the Petit Trianon at Versailles

 The cabinets are each unique according to their purpose. Three of the cabinets (boudoir, café & wash closet and antichamber) can be entered from the main salon. The fourth cabinet, originally the kitchen and therefore the domain of the staff, is partitioned off from main salon. Each cabinet contains two exterior French doors as well as a set of casement windows.

I had an absolutely wonderful time studying and then re-creating this magical pavilion in Second Life® as you can see in Petit Trianon: The French Pavilion SL.

I was inspired and aided by Stefan's The French Pavilion as well as  Views and Plans of the Petit Trianon Versailles and Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles.