The east façade of the Louvre stands as a definitive architectural achievement of the seventeenth century, a project primarily credited to Claude Perrault. Beyond his work as an architect, he functioned as a polymath in the Kingdom of France, balancing professional duties as a physician with extensive research in physics, natural history, and anatomy throughout his long career in Paris.
Medical and Scientific Foundation
Perrault earned his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Paris in 1642. His scientific contributions were formalised in 1666 when he became a founding member of the French Academy of Sciences. His intellectual output spanned several disciplines, including the publication of natural history memoirs detailing animal dissections performed by the Academy and an extensive four-volume collection of essays on physics titled Essais de Physique.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Architectural Projects in Paris
Commissioned by Louis XIV, Perrault worked alongside Louis Le Vau and Charles Le Brun within the Petit Conseil to design the east façade of the Louvre, a project spanning from 1667 to 1674. He engineered solutions for structural stress, including the implementation of iron tie rods. His technical ingenuity extended to the Paris Observatory, which he designed between 1667 and 1669 to serve as a research hub for the Académie des Sciences.
Theoretical Contributions
Perrault influenced the field through his scholarly translation of the ten books of Vitruvius, published with his own annotations in 1673. He later codified his design principles in a treatise on the five classical orders of architecture in 1683. His technical interests also encompassed acoustics, where he investigated sound media and the relationship between vibration and musical harmony, documented within his work Oeuvres diverses de Physique et de Mecanique.
Fast facts
- Born: 1613, Paris
- Died: 1688, Paris
- Citizenship: Kingdom of France
- Notable Works: Louvre Colonnade, Paris Observatory
- Academic Degree: Doctor of Medicine
- Professional Memberships: French Academy of Sciences, Académie Royale d'Architecture
Questions readers ask
What is Claude Perrault most known for?
He is primarily recognized for his design of the east façade of the Louvre and for the Paris Observatory.
Was Claude Perrault only an architect?
No, he held a medical degree and was an active scientist, translator, and author with expertise in anatomy, physics, and botany.
Achievements
- Notable work: Louvre Colonnade
- Notable work: Paris Observatory, PSL University
- Worked as physician, anatomist and architect
