Androuet Du Cerceau

Related Category: Architecture: Biographies

(äNdr-ā´ dü sĕrsō´), family of French architects active in the 16th and 17th cent. It was founded by Jacques Androuet, c.1520–c.1584, surnamed du Cerceau [Fr.,=circle] from the emblem of a circle marking his workshop. He is best known for his writings and his fanciful engravings of decorative architectural elements. Attributed to him are designs for two châteaux, Verneuil and Charleval. Of his two sons, who both worked on the Louvre, Baptiste Androuet du Cerceau, c.1545–1590, designed the Pont Neuf spanning the Seine at Paris and became supervisor of royal construction in Paris, while Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, the younger, c.1556–1614, worked on the Tuileries. Baptiste's son Jean Androuet du Cerceau, c.1585–1650, is known for his mansions in Paris, one of which is the Hôtel de Sully.