The day before yesterday, I posted a photo taken halfway up the Renaissance staircase of Blois Royal Castle. Here you can see the staircase on the right and the Gaston d’Orléans wing, built between 1635 and 1638, in the middle. To quote the castle’s official website, it “is a chef d’oeuvre of French classical architecture : the main block with its central pavilllion, the sober and subtle treatment of the façades, the elevation with its three classical orders, the superposition of the triangular and rounded pediments all contribute to accentuate the verticality of the composition”.
Avant d’hier, j’ai posté une photo prise à mi-chemin sur l’escalier Renaissance du château royal de Blois. On voit de nouveau l’escalier à droite et l’aile Gaston d’Orléans, construite entre 1635 et 1638, bien au milieu. Pour citer le site officiel du château de Blois, c’est “un manifeste du classicisme français en architecture : pavillon central et ailes en retour, traitement plastique des murs subtil et sobre, élévation à trois niveaux d’ordres, superposition de deux frontons – triangulaire et en plein cintre – accentuant l’effet de verticalité”.
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7 replies on “A Royal Classic – Un classique royal”
It is magnificent!
I wonder why they chose to use the French ‘chef d’oeuvre’ instead of masterpiece in the English version when it isn’t even what the French version says?
@William Yes, although I prefer the Renaissance wing myself.
@Susan I debated whether to redo the translation which is otherwise much better than usual. If the translator didn’t like “manifesto” they could have used “perfect example”.
Their web site took the words right out of my mouth. It does mean “it’s really cool” doesn’t it? In any case, it is such a beautiful place.
Absolutely!
I loved your photo from the staircase, but didn’t have time to comment. Even more impressive that it is now in context.
Blois Castle is less known than the 4 C’s (Chenonceau, Chambord, Cheverny and Chaumont) and even Amboise but I think all the different parts are just so interesting.