Le Petite Trianon, (Versailles, Paris); 1762, Early 19th Century Architecture in Europe - Faheema Ismail
King Louis had been working on his garden for over 10 years when he decided to commission a new mansion by the royal architect, Ange-Jacque Gabriel. This new estate was meant to be big enough to house the king and some of his following, and as he did this, he strayed from the classic Rococo and Gothic architecture and returned to the Greek Style that was becoming popular. As a result he made a large statement in the Neo-Classical movement. Built in 1768, the Trianon estate was built for King Louis XV and Queen Marie-Antoinette and was used as an escape from the palace life. In 1774, Louis XV came down with the pox and shortly died after. Thus brought about the reign of Louis XVI and his newly wed wife, Marie Antoinette, and as a gift to his beloved, he gave her the Petite Trianon and its estate. With her newly acquired play house, she started redecorating and made it her own. This included redesigning...