DERAND (DERRAND), FRANÇOIS. - French architect, b. in the diocese of Metz on 20 Feb. 1591; entered the Society of Jesus at Rouen on 25 Apr. 1611; d. at Agde on 26 Oct. 1644.
He drew the plans for various buildings for his Order (Rouen, etc.), but his name remains linked with the church of the Jesuit professed house in Paris (now St-Paul-St-Louis), for which the young priest displaced (1627–41) the old master Stefano Martellange (who in turn replied with his masterpiece, the chapel of the Paris novitiate). The sources disagree as to the share attributable to the two rival architects in the construction of the church; the dome and the famous, much-debated façade (inspired by that of St-Gervais in Paris and by Flemish models) are certainly by D.
Death prevented D. from attaining the full maturity of his talent. His skill is shown by his book L'architecture des voûtes, ou l'art des traits et coupe des voûtes (Paris 1643; reprints there 1741, 1755; adaptation by G. B. de la Rue, Traité de la coupe des pierres, there 1728). An album of drawings attributed to D. is preserved in the Louvre.