Happy Birthday Francois Mansart!! Born today in 1598, this French architect came from a family of artists. His father was a master carpenter, his grandfather a mason, one uncle a sculptor and the other an architect. Mansart was the apprentice to a master architect at a young age. His architectural career began with designing the façade for a small chapel in Paris in 1623. His work is said to exhibit stately classical intent without being fussy or overdone. The Mansard roof is named after his double sloping design. The Chateau de Balleroy is the only standing building of his early designs (1631), featuring rough yellowish brown stone with the white corner edging (quoins).
The picture shows the Beaumesnil Castel, not Balleroy!
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