BERNINI, Gian Lorenzo
(b. 1598, Napoli, d. 1680, Roma)

Project for the Louvre

1665
Drawing
Nationalmuseum, Stockholm

In the spring of 1665 Louis XIV invited Bernini to come to Paris and suggest on the spot how to complete the great Louvre 'carré' of which the west and south wings and half of the north wing were standing. Before he traveled to France, Bernini had already sent two different projects to Colbert, in whose hands rested all proceedings connected with the Louvre. Although Bernini worked on the whole area of the 'carré', the focus of his design was the east façade. However, his proposals were not accepted.

The picture shows Bernini's second project of February 1665.