Pierre Lescot (L'Escot)
architect; b. about 1510-1515; d. 1578.
Lescot was equivalent in the old French to l'écossais, "the Scotchman." Pierre is supposed to have belonged to an ancient Parisian family of this name which was probably of Scottish origin. He was born at about the same time as Jacques (I) Androuet, Philibert de l'Orme, and Jean Ballant. In Jean Goujon's epistle to the readers, published in Jean Martin's translation of Vitruvius in 1557, Lescot is called "Parisien." He was Seigneur de la Grange du Martroy and Seigneur de Clagny, was created Abbé commendatoire de Clermont, and, December 18, 1554, canon of the cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris. The details of his life are known mainly from the poetical epistle which was addressed to him by the poet Ronsard. Lescot was the earliest architect to develop the use of the pure classic orders in France. His first known work was the rood-screen (jubé) of the church of S. Germain 1'Auxerrois, Paris, which was built between 1541 and 1544. The sculptural decoration of this work was by Jean Goujon, Laurent Regnauldin,and Simon Leroy. He was also associated with Jean Goujon in the construction of the fountain of the Nymphs. He is supposed to have made the plans for the Hôtel Carnavalet, Paris. Lescot's greatest work is the wing of the Louvre palace which is situated on the western side of the old quadrangle at its southwestern angle. This building was projected in 1540 by Francois I, but the building was not begun until 1546. Lescot was occupied with this building until his death. Palustre supposed that the chapel of the Valois at S. Denis (destroyed) was designed by Pierre Lescot.
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