Gilles le Breton
Encyclopedia
Gilles le Breton was a French architect
and master-mason during the Renaissance
. He is best known as the mastermind of much of the present-day château de Fontainebleau
.
In 1526, le Breton was working at the château de Chambord
under Pierre Nepveu. In 1527, he was appointed “maître général des oeuvres de Maçonnerie du roi,” or master-mason. It was around this time that Francis I
started renovations on Fontainebleau, the former medieval hunting lodge of the French monarchs, just to the southeast of Paris. On April 28, 1528, le Breton signed a contract with the king to pull down the old entrance tower and erect another, along with several smaller towers and galleries. Le Breton was next contracted to construct the Chapel of St. Saturnin and renovate a staircase in August 1531. He was promised 18,000 livres for work on the grand staircase, per a contract in March 1540. Philibert de l'Orme
, the architect of Francis I, acknowledged and verified le Breton’s works later in 1540. Though de l’Orme became the lead architect of Fontainebleau in 1548, it is believed that le Breton remained on the project until his death.
Surviving works of le Breton’s at Fontainebleau include the Porte Dorée and loggia, the Cour Ovale, the Cour du Cheval Blanc, and the chapel of La Trinité.
Le Breton died in the village of Avon, Seine-et-Marne
, Fontainebleau, in 1553.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and master-mason during the Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
. He is best known as the mastermind of much of the present-day château de Fontainebleau
Château de Fontainebleau
The Palace of Fontainebleau, located 55 kilometres from the centre of Paris, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. The palace as it is today is the work of many French monarchs, building on an early 16th century structure of Francis I. The building is arranged around a series of courtyards...
.
In 1526, le Breton was working at the château de Chambord
Château de Chambord
The royal Château de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures.The building, which was never...
under Pierre Nepveu. In 1527, he was appointed “maître général des oeuvres de Maçonnerie du roi,” or master-mason. It was around this time that Francis I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
started renovations on Fontainebleau, the former medieval hunting lodge of the French monarchs, just to the southeast of Paris. On April 28, 1528, le Breton signed a contract with the king to pull down the old entrance tower and erect another, along with several smaller towers and galleries. Le Breton was next contracted to construct the Chapel of St. Saturnin and renovate a staircase in August 1531. He was promised 18,000 livres for work on the grand staircase, per a contract in March 1540. Philibert de l'Orme
Philibert de l'Orme
Philibert DeLorme was a French architect, one of the great masters of the French Renaissance.He was born at Lyon, the son of Jean Delorme, a master mason. At an early age Philibert was sent to Italy to study and was employed there by Pope Paul III...
, the architect of Francis I, acknowledged and verified le Breton’s works later in 1540. Though de l’Orme became the lead architect of Fontainebleau in 1548, it is believed that le Breton remained on the project until his death.
Surviving works of le Breton’s at Fontainebleau include the Porte Dorée and loggia, the Cour Ovale, the Cour du Cheval Blanc, and the chapel of La Trinité.
Le Breton died in the village of Avon, Seine-et-Marne
Avon, Seine-et-Marne
Avon is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-Geography:Avon and Fontainebleau, together with three other smaller communes, form an urban area of 36,713 inhabitants...
, Fontainebleau, in 1553.