Jules Hardouin-Mansart

As architect of the Hall of Mirrors, Jules Hardouin-Mansart gave the reign of Louis XIV some of its most iconic settings. First architect to the king from 1681, he became superintendent of the King's Buildings in 1699.

Great-nephew of the great François Mansart, whose drawings he inherited, he trained under Libéral Bruant. At Versailles, he is responsible for the Hall of Mirrors (1678-1684), the Grand Trianon (1687), and the long facades overlooking the gardens.

In Paris, he designed the Place Vendôme and the Place des Victoires, and completed the dome of the Invalides, one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the capital.

Starting in 1674, he worked at Chantilly for the Grand Condé, remodeling the Petit Château and the Grand Château and adding the terrace as well as the grand staircase.