Lescot Wing

The Lescot Wing of the Louvre in Paris is considered the oldest surviving above-ground structure of the palace. The architect Pierre Lescot designed the building in the style of Italian Mannerism, and it was built between 1546 and 1551 under the kings Francis I and Henry II. This façade had a decisive influence on later French Classicism and the Parisian Renaissance style. The architecture impresses with a two-story façade topped by a richly decorated attic story, adorned with bas-reliefs by the sculptor Jean Goujon. A steep mansard roof crowns the building, a form that strongly influenced the later development of French architecture. While the ground floor is defined by an arcade with deeply recessed arched windows, slender pilasters separate the windows on the upper floor, which are fitted alternately with triangular and arched pediments.

Inside, the wing houses important state rooms that served central functions in the court life of the French monarchy for centuries. Today the ground floor holds the Hall of the Caryatids, which originally served as a grand banquet hall and is distinguished by a gallery with four caryatid figures on the north side. In the 17th century, the ceiling was replaced by a stone vault supported by columns. On the upper floor you will find the great hall, now used to display Etruscan art. This room has been remodeled several times, most recently in 2021, though a painted ceiling by Cy Twombly from 2010 was preserved. It pays tribute to the great artists of ancient Greece. To the south lies the king's former antechamber, whose richly carved ceiling has been fitted with paintings by Georges Braque since 1953, marking the first presentation of modern art in the Louvre in a long time.

The attic story once served as living quarters for high-ranking court officials and has been used since 1993 to display 19th-century French painting. To the north of the great halls, the ceremonial staircase, known as the Henry II Staircase, leads upstairs. It is largely preserved in its 16th-century state and has a vault with ornamental motifs by Goujon. This staircase connects the levels and leads to the Pavillon de l'Horloge, which was added in the 17th century. Two smaller spiral staircases, which served the wing and the adjoining King's Pavilion, still exist but are not open to visitors.