66 



RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE IN FRANCE. 



celebrated Florentine family of majolica workers, but had been a 

 pupil of Giacopo Sansovino (Figs. 58 and 59). The house, which 

 measured 265 feet by 112 feet, consisted of two square blocks, each 

 with four square angle turrets, connected by a third block of less 

 width. Arcaded galleries ran along the sides, in the two lower storeys, 

 from turret to turret. The end blocks contained suites of private 

 rooms, the intermediate one halls of state, and the turrets either 

 stairs or private cabinets. The house was of unusual height, having 

 four storeys below the eaves and above the vaulted half basement, 

 in which were servants' offices especially commodious and well lit for 

 the period. 



The symmetry of the plan prevented the confusion in the roofs and 

 dormers which is often characteristic of the style, and the uncompromis- 

 ing plainness of the projections confine the design within clearly 

 marked boundaries, which are often lacking in its contemporaries. The 

 total effect, however, was the reverse of austere, for all the columns, 

 pilasters, architraves, medallions, friezes, dormers, and chimney-stacks 

 were of brilliantly coloured majolica. This mode of enrichment was 

 introduced in small quantities elsewhere, but on no other French 

 building did it assume the same predominant place. One or two 

 fragments are preserved in the Cluny Museum, but the rest was 

 pounded up to make cement when the chateau was pulled down at 

 the Revolution. 



ECOUEN. Like Madrid, the chateau of Ecouen (Fig. 60) shows an 

 advance in regularity of planning, while it surpasses it in breadth and 

 sobriety of treatment. It was built (1531-40) by the Constable Anne de 

 Montmorency, son of the builder of Chantilly. The architect is un- 



60. CHATEAU OK ECOUEN, NEAR ST DENIS (1531-^.1566). 



From a Drawing by Du Cerceau. 



