Pierre Lescot

Lescot, Pierre 

Born circa 1500–15 in Paris (?); died Sept. 10, 1578, in Paris. French architect.

Lescot worked in Paris, primarily with the sculptor J. Goujon. His works, which include an ambo at the church of St. Germain l’Auxerrois (c. 1542–44, fragments in the Louvre) and the reconstruction of the Louvre (by 1574 only part of the Square Court was completed), represent the pinnacle of the French Renaissance and are marked by strongly articulated columns and entablatures, profuse sculptural decoration, and subtle handling of details. Lescot is believed to have designed the Lignières Hotel (now the Carnavalet, from 1544) and to have participated in the construction of the Fountain of Innocents (1547–49, not preserved in its original state).

REFERENCES

Hautecoeur, L. Histoire de l’architecture classique en France, vol. 1. Paris, 1965.