Pierre-Louis Moreau-Desproux
Encyclopedia
Pierre-Louis Moreau-Desproux (Paris
1727 — Paris 1793) was a pioneering French neoclassical
architect.
Though he did not gain the Prix de Rome
that was the dependable gateway to a prominent French career in architecture, his fellow-student Charles de Wailly
invited him to share his prize. In Rome, from September 1754 to December 1756, half the customary three years, they were exposed to the ferment of the new neoclassical style and took part, with Marie-Joseph Peyre
, in the archaeological excavations of the Baths of Diocletian
; their speculative reconstructions of the complex attracted the attention of Piranesi.
On his return to Paris, Moreau-Desproux’s first commission was the fully neoclassical Hôtel de Chavannes near the Porte du Temple, at that time on the outskirts of the city; the house was completed by May 1758 and was demolished in 1846 (Eriksen); it earned a critical analysis from the Abbé Laugier
, theoretician of neoclassicism, in his Observations sur l'architecture 1765. A colossal order of Ionic pilasters
distinguished its façade, where the two floors were articulated by a plain banding of Greek key fret.
Officially Moreau-Desproux was appointed architect-in-charge (maître des bâtiments) to the city of Paris in 1763 and held the appointment until 1783. His great-uncle Jean-Baptiste-Augustin Beausire had formerly held the position. His position enabled him to influence the appointment of Jean Chalgrin
to a place in the city's office of works. Probably in 1763-64 Moreau-Desproux designed and built the severely neoclassical plinth-like free-standing Fontaine des Haudriettes at the juncture of the rue des Archives and the rue des Vieilles-Haudriettes, Paris IIIe. His official position required that he design and see constructed numerous temporary decorations erected for festive occasions: his designs for the masked ball given for the King and Queen, 23 January 1782, on the occasion of the birth of Monseigneur the Dauphin
was engraved by Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune.
Among his private commissions was the distinctly Neo-Palladian pavilion
erected for M. Nicholas Carré de Baudouin on the heights of Ménilmontant
(now in the rue de Menilmontant) in 1770. He also designed and built the Hôtel Gontaut in rue Louis-le-Grand, 1772 and was commissioned to remodel the Hôtel de Luynes (c. 1770-75, demolished in 1901 with the piercing of the Boulevard Raspail
and the rue de Luynes) Behind Gabriel's facades on Place Louis XV
, west of rue Royale, he constructed in 1772 two residences, one for himself, the other for his friend Rouillé de l'Estang.
From 1764 to 1770, after a fire, he rebuilt the theatre in the largely rebuilt Palais Royal
, on an oval plan that introduced structural iron, and he provided a new façade to the cour d'honneur
, the "Cour de l'Horloge", work that was paid for by the city of Paris; it may be seen today, behind the Roman screen by Pierre Contant d'Ivry
, who was at work on the project at the same time; Moreau-Desproux's theatre was remodelled in 1781.
One of his sisters married the architect Marie-Joseph Peyre
. Moreau-Desproux met his end under the guillotine
during the Terror.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
1727 — Paris 1793) was a pioneering French neoclassical
Neoclassicism
Neoclassicism is the name given to Western movements in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that draw inspiration from the "classical" art and culture of Ancient Greece or Ancient Rome...
architect.
Though he did not gain the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
that was the dependable gateway to a prominent French career in architecture, his fellow-student Charles de Wailly
Charles De Wailly
Charles De Wailly was a French architect and urbanist, and furniture designer, one of the principals in the Neoclassical revival of the Antique. His major work was the Théâtre de l'Odéon for the Comédie-Française...
invited him to share his prize. In Rome, from September 1754 to December 1756, half the customary three years, they were exposed to the ferment of the new neoclassical style and took part, with Marie-Joseph Peyre
Marie-Joseph Peyre
Marie-Joseph Peyre was a French architect who designed in the neoclassical style.- Biography :He began his training in Paris with Jacques-François Blondel at l'École des Arts, where he met Giovanni Niccolo Servandoni and formed a life-long friendship with Charles De Wailly...
, in the archaeological excavations of the Baths of Diocletian
Baths of Diocletian
The Baths of Diocletian in Rome were the grandest of the public baths, or thermae built by successive emperors. Diocletian's Baths, dedicated in 306, were the largest and most sumptuous of the imperial baths. The baths were built between the years 298 AD and 306 AD...
; their speculative reconstructions of the complex attracted the attention of Piranesi.
On his return to Paris, Moreau-Desproux’s first commission was the fully neoclassical Hôtel de Chavannes near the Porte du Temple, at that time on the outskirts of the city; the house was completed by May 1758 and was demolished in 1846 (Eriksen); it earned a critical analysis from the Abbé Laugier
Marc-Antoine Laugier
The abbé Marc-Antoine Laugier was a Jesuit priest and architectural theorist. Laugier is best known for his Essay on Architecture published in 1753. In 1755 he published the second edition with a famous, often reproduced illustration of a primitive hut...
, theoretician of neoclassicism, in his Observations sur l'architecture 1765. A colossal order of Ionic pilasters
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
distinguished its façade, where the two floors were articulated by a plain banding of Greek key fret.
Officially Moreau-Desproux was appointed architect-in-charge (maître des bâtiments) to the city of Paris in 1763 and held the appointment until 1783. His great-uncle Jean-Baptiste-Augustin Beausire had formerly held the position. His position enabled him to influence the appointment of Jean Chalgrin
Jean Chalgrin
Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin was a French architect, best known for his design for the Arc de Triomphe, Paris.-Biography:...
to a place in the city's office of works. Probably in 1763-64 Moreau-Desproux designed and built the severely neoclassical plinth-like free-standing Fontaine des Haudriettes at the juncture of the rue des Archives and the rue des Vieilles-Haudriettes, Paris IIIe. His official position required that he design and see constructed numerous temporary decorations erected for festive occasions: his designs for the masked ball given for the King and Queen, 23 January 1782, on the occasion of the birth of Monseigneur the Dauphin
Louis XVII of France
Louis XVII , from birth to 1789 known as Louis-Charles, Duke of Normandy; then from 1789 to 1791 as Louis-Charles, Dauphin of France; and from 1791 to 1793 as Louis-Charles, Prince Royal of France, was the son of King Louis XVI of France and Queen Marie Antoinette...
was engraved by Jean-Michel Moreau le Jeune.
Among his private commissions was the distinctly Neo-Palladian pavilion
Pavilion (structure)
In architecture a pavilion has two main meanings.-Free-standing structure:Pavilion may refer to a free-standing structure sited a short distance from a main residence, whose architecture makes it an object of pleasure. Large or small, there is usually a connection with relaxation and pleasure in...
erected for M. Nicholas Carré de Baudouin on the heights of Ménilmontant
Ménilmontant
Ménilmontant is a neighbourhood of Paris, situated in the city's 20th arrondissement. It is affectionately known to locals as "Ménilmuche".-History:...
(now in the rue de Menilmontant) in 1770. He also designed and built the Hôtel Gontaut in rue Louis-le-Grand, 1772 and was commissioned to remodel the Hôtel de Luynes (c. 1770-75, demolished in 1901 with the piercing of the Boulevard Raspail
Boulevard Raspail
Boulevard Raspail is a boulevard of Paris, in France.Its orientation is north-south, and joins boulevard Saint-Germain with place Denfert-Rochereau whilst traversing 7th, 6th and 14th arrondissements...
and the rue de Luynes) Behind Gabriel's facades on Place Louis XV
Place de la Concorde
The Place de la Concorde in area, it is the largest square in the French capital. It is located in the city's eighth arrondissement, at the eastern end of the Champs-Élysées.- History :...
, west of rue Royale, he constructed in 1772 two residences, one for himself, the other for his friend Rouillé de l'Estang.
From 1764 to 1770, after a fire, he rebuilt the theatre in the largely rebuilt Palais Royal
Palais Royal
The Palais-Royal, originally called the Palais-Cardinal, is a palace and an associated garden located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris...
, on an oval plan that introduced structural iron, and he provided a new façade to the cour d'honneur
Cour d'Honneur
Cour d'Honneur is the architectural term for defining a three-sided courtyard, created when the main central block, or corps de logis, is flanked by symmetrical advancing secondary wings, containing minor rooms...
, the "Cour de l'Horloge", work that was paid for by the city of Paris; it may be seen today, behind the Roman screen by Pierre Contant d'Ivry
Pierre Contant d'Ivry
Pierre Contant d'Ivry was a French architect and designer working in a chaste and sober Rococo style and in the Goût grec phase of early Neoclassicism.-Biography:...
, who was at work on the project at the same time; Moreau-Desproux's theatre was remodelled in 1781.
One of his sisters married the architect Marie-Joseph Peyre
Marie-Joseph Peyre
Marie-Joseph Peyre was a French architect who designed in the neoclassical style.- Biography :He began his training in Paris with Jacques-François Blondel at l'École des Arts, where he met Giovanni Niccolo Servandoni and formed a life-long friendship with Charles De Wailly...
. Moreau-Desproux met his end under the guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
during the Terror.