Clément II Métezeau

Jacques-Clément Métezeau (French pronunciation: [klemɑ̃ metəzo]; 1581–1652), also Clément II Métezeau, was Royal architect of Louis XIII, and French engineer who completed the seawall blocking the city of La Rochelle in the Siege of La Rochelle in 1627–1628. He also designed Place Ducale, the main square in Charleville-Mézières, in 1606.

Clément II Métezeau (1581-1652).

The initial idea for blocking the channel leading to the harbour of La Rochelle in order to stop all supplies to the city came from the Italian engineer Pompeo Targone, but his structure was broken by the winter weather. The endeavour was finally taken up by the Royal architect Clément Métezeau (also Metzeau).^[1]

The wall was built on top of a foundation made of sunken hulks, filled with rubble. The construction involved 4,000 workmen, and the seawall was 1,400 metres long. French artillery installed on the seawall and used against English ships that tried to supply the city.

Métezeau may have been involved in the building of the Palais du Luxembourg for Marie de Medicis. According to Collins, he was sent to Florence by the main architect Salomon de Brosse to make drawings of the Palazzo Pitti, which was to be used as a model by the regent's order.^[2] However, other sources say Marie de Medicis sent his brother, Louis Métezeau.^[3][4]

Clément Métezeau also built the Classical facade of the Église Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais of Paris, in 1621,^[5] as well as two townhouses (hôtels particuliers) in Paris, the Hôtel de Chevreuse (rue Saint-Thomas-du-Louvre), constructed 1622–1623 and renamed Hôtel de Longueville in 1662, and the Hôtel du Plessis-Guénégaud, constructed 1630–1632.^[6]

Gallery

• 
  Clément Métezeau and the siege of La Rochelle
• 
  The seawall designed by Clément Métezeau for the Siege of La Rochelle
• 
  The Métezeau seawall at the Siege of La Rochelle

References

1. Duffy, p.118
2. Concrete by Peter Collins, Kenneth Frampton, Réjean Legault, p.166
3. The Architecture of the Renaissance by Leonardo Benevolo, p.706
4. The architecture of Paris by Andrew Ayers, p.130
5. France by Michelin p.358
6. Alexandre Gady 2008, p. 308 "Chevreuse (hôtel de), rue Saint-Thomas-du-Louvre" and p. 314 "Plessis-Guénégaud (hôtel du)", in Les Hôtels particuliers de Paris du Moyen Âge à la Belle Époque. Paris: Parigramme. ISBN 9782840962137.