François Mansart

Son of a master carpenter, Mansart trained under Salomon de Brosse, absorbing classical Italian treatises. An unbending perfectionist who frequently demolished his own completed masonry at his own expense to achieve aesthetic harmony, he won the patronage of Gaston d'Orléans and René de Longueil.

His masterwork, the Château de Maisons (1642–1651) on the Seine, established the standard for French country châteaux, harmonizing classical Corinthian orders with soaring rooflines. He popularized the curb roof with two slopes on each side (mansard roof) to maximize attic living space.