LE VAU, LOUIS. - French architect, b. in Paris in 1612 and d. there on 11 Oct. 1670.
He also traveled in Italy, in particular to Genoa and Rome. Among his early works are remembered in Paris the Lambert (1640-50) and Lauzun (1650 ff.) palaces; a few years later (1655) he also provided the plans for the enlargement of Gittard's designs for the church of St-Sulpice. Appointed, in 1655, architect of the Louvre and the Tuileries, he acquired fame especially with the Château of Vaux-le-Vicomte for Fouquet, which he built and decorated in collaboration with Le Brun and Le Nôtre. In 1662 he provided the designs for the Mazarin College (today the Institut de France) and for the church of St-Louis-en-l'Île; in '66 he attended to the works of the Louvre, while he devoted the last years of his life to those of Versailles.
As for the works of the Louvre, Le V. had already built in 1663 the first facade to the south, on the Seine side (later demolished), and had provided the design for the facade toward St-Germain-l'Auxerrois. It was precisely for this facade that recourse was instead had to Bernini, who, having arrived in France, laid the first stone of his construction in Oct. 1665. Once Bernini had however departed for Italy, his design was no longer to be brought to completion because of the intrigues of the French architects, from whom, in '67, a new design was requested, carried out especially by Le V. and then by Perrault.
Le V. never revealed a strong artistic personality; indeed he most often applied coldly the suggestions that came to him from Italy, in order to create sumptuous residences for his wealthy patrons.
Bibliography3 works
Gilberto Ronci