Le Petit Trianon
Title
Le Petit Trianon
Description
Le Petit Trianon is a château on the Palace of Versailles grounds. Its construction started in 1758 under the order of Louis XV and was completed in 1768 by Ange-Jacques Gabriel, one of Louis XV's favorite architects during the time period. Gabriel's work on the Petit Trianon could be described as a "a manifesto for the neo-classical movement" (Château De Versailles). The château is heavily inspired by ancient Greek architecture. The photograph above is of the west façade which contains much more attention to detail compared to the other sides, and includes four Corinthian columns arranged in a meticulous manner. The proportions in its composition achieves harmony and elegance.
The time period when this palace was built is one marked by absolutist rule in France. Louis XV stepped onto the throne after the infamous Louis XIV's death in 1715. To this day, Louis XIV is seen as the symbol of absolute monarchy in the late 1600s and early 1700s. In fact, he gave himself the title of the "Sun King". One of his main goals was to centralize the control of France and make the Palace of Versailles the center of France. During his reign, Louis XIV had rendered parlements powerless and collected as many nobles as he could and put them under his direct control. According to estimations, the Palace of Versailles' cost was that of a modern airport. While many people in France were struggling, Louis XIV was pouring obscene amounts of resources onto his ideal palace. With the flamboyant palace, the distance between the monarchy and the people grew exponentially.
Although Le Petit Trianon was built after Louis XIV's reign, it certainly does carry his legacy. Louis XV, after all, was not any different than XIV and he continued to garner the hate of the public. The isolation between the monarchy and the people kept increasing under Louis XV. The Petit Trianon shows that what Louis XIV had done with the Palace was not enough; more expenses were being made to expand the flamboyant grand palace. Eventually, the sheltered actions of the crown's consequence turned out to be the French Revolution.
References:
"Louis XIV." Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed November 18, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/.
"Louis XV." Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed November 18, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/.
"The Petit Trianon." Palace of Versailles. October 30, 2018. Accessed November 18, 2018. http://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate/estate-trianon/petit-trianon#history-of-the-premises .
The time period when this palace was built is one marked by absolutist rule in France. Louis XV stepped onto the throne after the infamous Louis XIV's death in 1715. To this day, Louis XIV is seen as the symbol of absolute monarchy in the late 1600s and early 1700s. In fact, he gave himself the title of the "Sun King". One of his main goals was to centralize the control of France and make the Palace of Versailles the center of France. During his reign, Louis XIV had rendered parlements powerless and collected as many nobles as he could and put them under his direct control. According to estimations, the Palace of Versailles' cost was that of a modern airport. While many people in France were struggling, Louis XIV was pouring obscene amounts of resources onto his ideal palace. With the flamboyant palace, the distance between the monarchy and the people grew exponentially.
Although Le Petit Trianon was built after Louis XIV's reign, it certainly does carry his legacy. Louis XV, after all, was not any different than XIV and he continued to garner the hate of the public. The isolation between the monarchy and the people kept increasing under Louis XV. The Petit Trianon shows that what Louis XIV had done with the Palace was not enough; more expenses were being made to expand the flamboyant grand palace. Eventually, the sheltered actions of the crown's consequence turned out to be the French Revolution.
References:
"Louis XIV." Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed November 18, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/.
"Louis XV." Encyclopædia Britannica. Accessed November 18, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/.
"The Petit Trianon." Palace of Versailles. October 30, 2018. Accessed November 18, 2018. http://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/estate/estate-trianon/petit-trianon#history-of-the-premises .
Creator
Ange-Jacques Gabriel
Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petit_Trianon#/media/File:West_facade_of_Petit_Trianon_002.JPG
Date
1762
Contributor
Kaan Taskintuna
Rights
CC BY-SA 3.0, Free to share with appropriate credit to the owner
Original Format
Photograph
Citation
Ange-Jacques Gabriel, “Le Petit Trianon,” HIST 139 - Early Modern Europe, accessed August 6, 2026, https://earlymoderneurope.hist.sites.carleton.edu/items/show/236.