Napoleon’s first defeat, in 1814, stopped the construction of the arch nothing more was done for almost ten years, and the uncompleted Arc was even threatened with demolition. He continued work on the Arc until his death, in 1811, when he was succeeded by his pupil, L. In the end, Chalgrin prevailed, and was named sole architect of the monument in 1808. Arc de Triomphe was the biggest monument until Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang was built in 1982 (McCormack 59 Watkin 442).īy 1807, although the foundations were complete, a definitive design was still not established, as Raymond and Chalgrin had subsequently submitted rival proposals. The little vault is 61.3 ft elevated and 8.44 m wide. The big tomb is 95.8 ft elevated and 48 ft wide. Arc de Triomphe stands 50 meters in altitude, 148 ft broad and 72 ft deep. 1806: Architectural drawing project of Jean Chalgrin Construction of the MonumentĪrc de Triomphe (also known as Voie Triomphale) is a Neoclassicism architectural design, positioned in Place Charles de Gaulle (formerly Place de l’Étoile) (Fernandes, Plum, and Rogue 10). Napoleon was impatient: plans were hurriedly drawn up by Jean-Francois Chalgrin and Jean-Arnaud Raymond (diagram 1), and then first stone of the new arch was laid on 15 August 1806, the emperor’s birthday.

It was not until 1806, however, that the Emperor Napoleon finally decreed that a triumphal arch, dedicated to the glory of Grande Armee, should be built on the site (Raymond 9). Ever since, in the 1660s, Andre Le Notre created the great westward axis (today Avenue des Champs-Elysees) that departs majestically from the Tuleries, this spot, at the summit of the Chailot hill and therefore the termination of Le Notre’s avenue when viewed from Paris, was the subject of countless plans for some kind of landmark monument. To move from the monument is to walk through history. The history of “Arc de Triomphe” reaches back to Roman and even Neolithic times. In the end, this and all other designs intended to be added to the arch were deserted, and the top of the arch at present is simply a horizontal surface for viewing Paris. The carving of quadriga on top of the arch were restored, and the architectural drawing by Alexandre Falguiere was highly appreciated, that a full-size plaster type of it was fixed at the top the arch, where it stayed for four years until it more or less dissolved in the rain. He also restored a great hall in the low wall at the top of the entablature, which Chalgrin had initially planned to be a museum. Guillaume-Abel Blouet actually implemented Chalgrin’s last drawing by adding some decoration, most of the sculptural decoration, and the top which was decorated with scallops that doubles as a guardrail for viewing horizontal surface of Paris. Guillaume-Abel Blouet became, in 1832, the architect who finally finished the construction of the arch which was later devoted to the armies of the Revolution and the Empire.

In 1825, King Charles X authorized Chalgrin’s designs to be approved with slight adjustments like a crowning sculpture of a quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses, symbolizing France triumphant, which was to be placed on the top. Jean-Nicholas Huyot designs were considered not practical. The arch was to be rededicated to the heroism of the Army of the Pyrenees, which had been headed by his nephew.ĭue to the historic event about to be celebrated, Jean-Nicholas Huyot was given official approval to modify Chalgrin’s previous drawing, and this was for a second time disapproved. From the history of the arch, it was King Louis XVIII who authorized the immediate construction of the arch. By 1818, some architects proposed the demolition of “Arch de Triomphe”, and remolding the remaining stone into a fountain or reusing them in a “temple to the illustrious men of France.” Though, no construction was made until King Louis XVIII was sworn-in.

Roman victory march