Maison
Monument
Maison, located in Arras (Pas-de-Calais), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Arras, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 50.2950, 2.7752
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00107991
An 18th-century bourgeois residence in the heart of Arras, embodying the sober elegance of Flemish-French classicism: brick and white stone façade, rigorous layout, listed as a Historic Monument since 1946.
History
In the heart of Arras, a town whose Grand'Place and Place des Héros are among the finest examples of Baroque and Classical architecture in northern France, stands an 18th-century bourgeois house that bears discreet and elegant witness to the refinement of civil housing under the Ancien Régime. Listed as a Historic Monument by decree on 25 November 1946, this residence is part of a local heritage that is all too often overlooked, and which says as much about the society of its time as the great châteaux or cathedrals. What sets this house apart is precisely the fact that it belongs to the Artesian architectural tradition of the Age of Enlightenment: a subtle balance between the Flemish influence inherited from the former Spanish Netherlands - visible in the use of brick and the verticality of the openings - and the French classical canons disseminated at the time by the royal architectural academies. Neither ostentatious nor austere, it illustrates the taste of a wealthy bourgeoisie - merchants, lawyers and royal officers - who wanted to assert their rank while respecting the strict codes of the city rebuilt after the destruction of the 17th century. Visiting this residence means immersing yourself in the historic urban fabric of Arras, a town whose town centre was listed and extensively restored during the 20th century. The house is set against a backdrop of cobbled streets and well-ordered facades, creating a striking Old Regime atmosphere. Even when viewed from the street, the façade reveals a precious architectural vocabulary: moulded cornices, ashlar window surrounds and measured proportions. The Arras setting adds an extra dimension to the visit. Arras, the prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department, is a city of art and history with a 17th-18th century heritage that is exceptional on a national scale. The arcaded galleries of the two main squares, the private mansions in and around rue Ronville, and the Fine Arts and Underground Museums are the perfect way to explore this town. A must for anyone seeking to understand the social and architectural history of northern France.
Architecture
The house is in the tradition of 18th-century civil architecture in Arles, characterised by a harmonious dialogue between the warm, ochre-coloured local brick and the white ashlar used for the noble features: window surrounds, cornices, quoins and stringcourses separating the levels. This two-colour scheme, inherited from the Flemish building tradition, gives the façades of Arras an understated elegance that is instantly recognisable. The facade, laid out according to classical French principles, is symmetrical in composition, with bays of windows with large transoms and wooden shutters. The proportions follow the golden rule of the architects of the Grand Siècle: a slightly raised ground floor on a stone base, a first floor with the highest windows, and a lower second floor crowned by a moulded cornice. The roof, probably gabled and made of blue slate in accordance with northern practice, completes this characteristic silhouette. The interior details of such an 18th-century Artesian residence generally include painted woodwork in monochrome, Rance marble or carved stone fireplaces, herringbone parquet flooring and stucco-moulded ceilings. The main staircase, a prestigious feature of the bourgeois home, is probably made of elaborate woodwork with a wrought-iron banister, as was common in wealthy homes in the north of France at the time.
Related Figures
Joseph Le Bon (1765-1795) — représentant en mission à Arras pendant la Terreur, dont l'action sanglante bouleversa la propriété bourgeoise arrageoiseMaximilien de Robespierre (1758-1794) — natif d'Arras, avocat et figure de la Révolution, contemporain de la construction et du contexte social qui entourait ces demeures bourgeoisesLouis-Alexandre de Bourbon, comte d'Artois — gouverneur de la province d'Artois sous l'Ancien Régime, dont l'administration favorisa le développement architectural des villes artésiennesJacques-Germain Soufflot (1713-1780) — architecte royal dont l'influence sur l'architecture civile française du XVIIIe siècle rayonna jusqu'en ArtoisEugène Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879) — théoricien du patrimoine dont les principes inspirèrent les premières politiques de protection des monuments civils en France
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison located?
Maison is located in Arras, Pas-de-Calais department, Hauts-de-France region, France.
When was Maison built?
Maison dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison open to visitors?
Maison is currently closed to visitors.