François, a celebrated French architect, descended from a family originally Italian, was born at Paris in 1598. He was instructed in the principles of his art by his uncle, Germain Gaurt, architect to the king, and first became known by his construction of several châteaux and hôtels. In 1632 he contributed the plan of the Église des Filles Sainte Marie. Not long afterwards Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., employed him to construct the Val de Grâce. After the structure had been partially erected, however, Mansart proposed to re-commence it on a new plan; but as this step met with the disapproval of the queen-mother, the completion of the edifice passed into other hands. The instability of purpose from which this slight arose became the besetting infirmity of Mansart, and afterwards prevented him from being intrusted with the buildings of the Louvre. Two of his masterpieces were the Église des Dames de Sainte Marie of Chaillet, and the Château de Maisons near St Germain-en-Laye. His last work was the façade of Église des Minimes in the Place Royale. He died at Paris in 1666. To him we owe the curb roof, which, after the name of its inventor, is still called a mansard.

Jules Hardouin, a celebrated French architect, the son of Hardouin the painter, and of a sister of the above-mentioned François Mansart, was born at Paris in 1645. He studied architecture under his uncle, and afterwards assumed his name. Recommended to the notice of Louis XIV., he was intrusted by that monarch with the construction of many important edifices. His most notable works are the Château de Versailles and the Hôtel des Invalides. He also planned the Château de Marly, Château du Grand Trianon, the Place Vendôme, the Place des Victoires, the Château de Dampierre, and the church of Notre Dame at Versailles. As a reward for his services, Mansart received from Louis XIV. the Order of St Michael. He was also appointed chief architect and superintendent of buildings, arts, and manufactures. The large fortune which he reaped from these offices drew upon him much envy, and had he not been firmly fixed in the king's favour, it might have caused his downfall. He died suddenly in May 1708. Over his grave, in the church of St Paul at Paris, a tomb, executed by the sculptor Coysevox, was erected.