GIRARDON (Francis), a celebrated French architect and sculptor, born at Troyes, in 1627. Lewis XIV. being informed of his great talents, sent him to Rome with a pension of 1000 crowns. At his return into France, he laboured for the royal palaces, and the gardens of Versailles and Trianon; where there are many of his works executed in bronze and in marble, from the designs of Charles le Brun. The mausoleum
of cardinal de Richieu, in the Sorbonne, and the equestrian statue of Lewis XIV. at the Place de Vendôme, where the statue and horse are cast in one piece, pays for his most excellent performances. Girardon was professor, rector, and chancellor, of the Academy of Painting and Sculpture; and had the post of inspector-general of all the works done in sculpture. He died in 1715.