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The baroque Palace of Versailles was a symbol of the absolute power of the monarchy exemplified by Louis XIV. In Italian, the word "barocco" means bizarre, and that says a lot. Buildings in the Baroque style have many of these features: *Complicated shapes *Large curved forms * Twisted columns *Grand stairways *High domes * Trompe l'oell paintings. The Baroque period was from 1600-1800. Andre Le Notre was a French landscape architect and the principal gardener of King Louis XIV. He was responsisble for the design and construction of the park of the Palace. All the decorations and art inside the palace was directed by Le Brun. The areas that exist exclusively of Le Brun's work are the Halls of War and Peace, the Ambassadors' Staircase, and the Great Hall of Mirrors. His decoration is considered the definitive monument of a reign. Jules Hardouin-Mansart is the architect responsible for much of the look the palace has today. |