MANSARD, JULES-HARDOUIN French architect, was born at Paris, probably on April 16, 1646, although this date is contested. He was the son of Raphael (?) Hardouin, painter to the king, and distantly related to Francois Mansart. For some time he worked under the instruction of Liberal Bruant, with whom he collaborated in the Hotel de VendOme ; then, having attracted the king's notice, he was commissioned in 1672 to design a chateau for Madame de Montespan, which was executed later. He was by this time launched upon a bril liant career, under the consistent patronage of Louis XIV. Among his earlier additions to St. Germain were a number of fine private houses, including the Hotel de Lorges (later Hotel de Conti), his own residence. After receiving various honours from the king, he was commanded to design and erect the Palace of Versailles. He was working on the great façade, too well known and too noble for description, about 1685, the stables and the Grand Commun being already completed, and Notre Dame de Versailles nearly so. At this period of his life he was working,
and causing others to work, with almost incredible celerity. In 1685 the foundations of the Pont-Royal were laid, and that year and the following were also occupied with the Institut de St. Cyr. In 1688 he began to work upon the Trianon.
There seemed to be no conception, however magnificent or de lightful, of which Mansard was not capable, no branch of con struction with which he was not conversant. After making addi tions to the Palais Royal, and building part of Orleans cathedral, he completed the dome of the Invalides in 1693, and, already ennobled, was further distinguished by the king. Still working with astonishing fertility, he built many country houses in the following years, among which may be mentioned the Chateau de Luneville and the Chateau de Sagonne (his own residence, where he was visited by the king), while still engaged in laying out the gardens of Versailles. He was working on the chapel there when he died in 1708.