François Debret (27 June 1777 – 19 February 1850) was a 19th-century French architect and Freemason. He was one of a group of influential academic architects in the 1820s and 1830s that furthered the precepts of Percier and Fontaine, although little of his own work survives.[2]
Born in Paris, François Debret was the son of Jacques Debret, criminal court clerk of the Parliament of Paris. He was the younger brother of Jean-Baptiste Debret. In 1808, he married a sister of the architect Félix Duban. Their son, Francis, born in 1809, graduated from the French Académie des Beaux-Arts (Academy of Fine Arts).
In 1813, Debret succeeded Jacques Cellerier as the architect in charge of restoring the Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris. His work there demonstrated a lack of understanding of gothic architecture. He supervised the trimming of stone from the church's flying buttresses, causing dangerous structural weakness; carried out the removal of authentic ornamentation; and added the anachronistic Gallery of Kings to the west facade. Already condemned by medievalists, he rebuilt the spire of the facade's north tower, after it was struck by lightning in 1837. The new spire was too heavy, jeopardizing the structural integrity of the facade. Relieved of his post in 1846 due to incompetence, he was succeeded by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who took down the spire in 1847.[2] The disputes over Debret's designs for the church furthered the Gothic Revival in France.[3]
In 1818–1819, he was assigned the task of transforming the former Augustinian convent in Paris into the École des Beaux-Arts, which had been revived in 1816 under the Bourbon Restoration. Debret supervised the construction of the serviceable Bâtiment des Loges (1822–1828) and built the foundation and south wing of the Palais des Études (started in 1820), but in 1832 was replaced by his former student and brother-in-law, Félix Duban, who redesigned it.[2]
Debret was more successful with his theatre designs. After restoring Nicolas Lenoir's Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in 1818, he remodeled the acoustically well-regarded auditorium of Victor Louis's Théâtre des Arts in 1819. His changes included raising the ceiling by replacing the original Ioniccapitals with Corinthian. In 1820 he was commissioned to design the temporary opera house, the Salle Le Peletier, in which he essentially rebuilt the auditorium of the Théâtre des Arts (demolished by an ordinance of 9 August 1820[4]). The design of the auditorium was so well received, it was prescribed as the official model for the auditorium of a new opera house in the competition of 1861. The Salle Le Peletier was destroyed by fire in 1873, and the Nouvel Opéra (New Opera) opened in 1875.[2] Debret also designed the Salle de la Bourse, which opened in 1827.[5][6]
Debret was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1825 and became inspector general to the Conseil Général des Bâtiments Civils (General Council of Civil Buildings) in 1841. He was replaced by Rohault de Fleury as the architect of the Opéra in 1846 and shortly after the February Revolution of 1848 was dismissed as inspector general.[2]
Restoration of several theaters and buildings of the École des Beaux-Arts (1822–1832), set in the old musée des monuments français, founded in 1795 in the former Couvent des Petits Augustins, and closed by Louis XVIII in 1816. This work was continued by his brother-in-law Félix Duban.
Gallery of worksedit
Pavillon de Hanovre on the Boulevard des Italiens.
Salle Le Peletier, the Paris Opera from 1821 to 1873.
Transformable room for show, concert and dance, 1779.
Transformable room for show, concert and dance, 1799.
Notesedit
^Dates and places of birth and death are from Mead 1996.
Curl, James Stevens (2006). Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, 2nd edition. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN9780198606789.
Lance, Adolphe (1872). Dictionnaire des Architectes français, 2 volumes. Paris: A. Morel. Vol. 1 and 2 at Google Books.
Wild, Nicole ([1989]). Dictionnaire des théâtres parisiens au XIXe siècle: les théâtres et la musique. Paris: Aux Amateurs de livres. ISBN9780828825863. ISBN9782905053800 (paperback). View formats and editions at WorldCat.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to François Debret.
December 15, 2023
françois, debret, june, 1777, february, 1850, 19th, century, french, architect, freemason, group, influential, academic, architects, 1820s, 1830s, that, furthered, precepts, percier, fontaine, although, little, work, survives, born27, june, 1777, parisdied19, . Francois Debret 27 June 1777 19 February 1850 was a 19th century French architect and Freemason He was one of a group of influential academic architects in the 1820s and 1830s that furthered the precepts of Percier and Fontaine although little of his own work survives 2 Francois DebretBorn27 June 1777 1 ParisDied19 February 1850 1850 02 19 aged 72 Saint CloudResting placePere Lachaise Cemetery48 51 43 N 2 23 39 E 48 861944 N 2 394167 E 48 861944 2 394167NationalityFrenchOccupationArchitect Contents 1 Early life and training 2 Career 3 Achievements 4 Gallery of works 5 Notes 6 BibliographyEarly life and training editBorn in Paris Francois Debret was the son of Jacques Debret criminal court clerk of the Parliament of Paris He was the younger brother of Jean Baptiste Debret In 1808 he married a sister of the architect Felix Duban Their son Francis born in 1809 graduated from the French Academie des Beaux Arts Academy of Fine Arts Around 1793 Debret studied with Charles Percier 2 Career editIn 1813 Debret succeeded Jacques Cellerier as the architect in charge of restoring the Basilica of Saint Denis near Paris His work there demonstrated a lack of understanding of gothic architecture He supervised the trimming of stone from the church s flying buttresses causing dangerous structural weakness carried out the removal of authentic ornamentation and added the anachronistic Gallery of Kings to the west facade Already condemned by medievalists he rebuilt the spire of the facade s north tower after it was struck by lightning in 1837 The new spire was too heavy jeopardizing the structural integrity of the facade Relieved of his post in 1846 due to incompetence he was succeeded by Eugene Viollet le Duc who took down the spire in 1847 2 The disputes over Debret s designs for the church furthered the Gothic Revival in France 3 In 1818 1819 he was assigned the task of transforming the former Augustinian convent in Paris into the Ecole des Beaux Arts which had been revived in 1816 under the Bourbon Restoration Debret supervised the construction of the serviceable Batiment des Loges 1822 1828 and built the foundation and south wing of the Palais des Etudes started in 1820 but in 1832 was replaced by his former student and brother in law Felix Duban who redesigned it 2 Debret was more successful with his theatre designs After restoring Nicolas Lenoir s Theatre de la Porte Saint Martin in 1818 he remodeled the acoustically well regarded auditorium of Victor Louis s Theatre des Arts in 1819 His changes included raising the ceiling by replacing the original Ionic capitals with Corinthian In 1820 he was commissioned to design the temporary opera house the Salle Le Peletier in which he essentially rebuilt the auditorium of the Theatre des Arts demolished by an ordinance of 9 August 1820 4 The design of the auditorium was so well received it was prescribed as the official model for the auditorium of a new opera house in the competition of 1861 The Salle Le Peletier was destroyed by fire in 1873 and the Nouvel Opera New Opera opened in 1875 2 Debret also designed the Salle de la Bourse which opened in 1827 5 6 Debret was elected a member of the Academie des Beaux Arts in 1825 and became inspector general to the Conseil General des Batiments Civils General Council of Civil Buildings in 1841 He was replaced by Rohault de Fleury as the architect of the Opera in 1846 and shortly after the February Revolution of 1848 was dismissed as inspector general 2 Among his students and apprentices was Antoine Nicolas Bailly Achievements editRestoration of several theaters and buildings of the Ecole des Beaux Arts 1822 1832 set in the old musee des monuments francais founded in 1795 in the former Couvent des Petits Augustins and closed by Louis XVIII in 1816 This work was continued by his brother in law Felix Duban Gallery of works edit nbsp Pavillon de Hanovre on the Boulevard des Italiens nbsp Salle Le Peletier the Paris Opera from 1821 to 1873 nbsp Transformable room for show concert and dance 1779 nbsp Transformable room for show concert and dance 1799 Notes edit Dates and places of birth and death are from Mead 1996 a b c d e f Mead 1996 Curl 2006 p 228 Wild 1989 p 273 Wild 1989 p 68 Lance 1872 p 184 Bibliography editCurl James Stevens 2006 Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture 2nd edition Oxford and New York Oxford University Press ISBN 9780198606789 Lance Adolphe 1872 Dictionnaire des Architectes francais 2 volumes Paris A Morel Vol 1 and 2 at Google Books Mead Christopher 1996 Debret Francois vol 8 pp 592 593 in The Dictionary of Art 34 vols edited by Jane Turner New York Grove ISBN 9781884446009 Also at Oxford Art Online subscription required Wild Nicole 1989 Dictionnaire des theatres parisiens au XIXe siecle les theatres et la musique Paris Aux Amateurs de livres ISBN 9780828825863 ISBN 9782905053800 paperback View formats and editions at WorldCat nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francois Debret Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francois Debret amp oldid 1153279974, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
