Winning the 1741 Prix de Rome for a cathedral chancel design launched the career of the French architect Nicolas-Henri Jardin. His influence extended far beyond his homeland, as he spent seventeen years in Denmark-Norway, where he introduced neoclassical principles to the royal court and left a lasting imprint on Copenhagen's architectural landscape through his public and private commissions.
Early Training and Italian Studies
Born in 1720 at Bussy-Saint-Martin, Jardin began his formal studies at the Académie Royale d'Architecture no later than 1738. After receiving the Prix de Rome, he moved to Italy in 1744. During his four-year residence at the French Academy in Rome, he engaged with mathematics, geometry, and graphics, often accompanied by the sculptor Jacques François Joseph Saly. This formative period, defined by the study of Roman ruins and the influence of Giovanni Battista Piranesi, prepared him for his future roles in northern Europe.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →The Danish Court Commission
In 1754, King Frederik V appointed Jardin to replace Nicolai Eigtved as the lead architect for Frederik's Church in Copenhagen. Alongside his brother Louis Henri Jardin, he secured an annual wage and faculty positions at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1755. Jardin subsequently became the Royal Building Master in 1760, overseeing all royal castles, parks, and buildings in Denmark until 1770. During this decade, he also managed the interior renovation of the Moltke Palace at Amalienborg.
Architectural Legacy and Departure
Jardin's major works included the construction of Bernstorff Palace, completed by 1765, and Marienlyst Castle, finished in 1762. Despite his high standing, fiscal challenges plagued the Frederik's Church project, leading to a cessation of building activity in 1770 under Johann Friedrich Struensee. Following his resignation from the Academy in 1771, Jardin returned to France. He later served as Royal Architect to King Louis XV in 1778 and remained an active member of the French Academy of Art until his death in Paris in 1799.
Fast facts
- Born: 1720, Bussy-Saint-Martin
- Died: 1799, Paris
- Education: Académie Royale d'Architecture
- Notable work: Bernstorff Palace
- Awards: Prix de Rome (1741)
- Positions: Royal Building Master (1760-1770)
- Employer: Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
- Citizenship: France
Questions readers ask
What major building did Jardin design in Denmark?
His most significant project was Bernstorff Palace, built between 1759 and 1765.
Why did Jardin leave his position in Denmark?
He resigned his professorship in 1771 following political instability and the rise of anti-foreigner sentiment in the country.
Achievements
- Notable work: Bernstorff Palace
- Prix de Rome
- Trained at Académie Royale d'Architecture
