A new description of Paris containing a particular account of all the churches, palaces, monasteries ... with all other remarkable matters in that great and famous city / translated out of French.

The Palace of ORLEANS,

OTherwise call'd The Palace of Luxembourg, because it stands in the same place where formerly stood a Hôtel of that name.

Of all the Houses in Paris, and even in the whole Kingdom; there is none more regular, better design'd for Architecture, or more mag∣nificent than this Palace. Mary de Medicis, Wi∣dow of Henry IV. caused it to be built, and for that purpose made use of the ablest Artist of her time, named Jacques de Brosse, the same per∣son who designed the Portal of St. Gervais, of which I have already spoken. That great Queen spared no Costs to leave Posterity a Mo∣nument of her magnificence. All Foreign Tra∣vellers do agree, that in all Italy, there is no∣thing to be seen, where Art hath been observed with more exactness, and where more Grandeur and Majesty appears, than in this building. It is composed of a great Square Court, at the fur∣ther end of which is the main Body of the Build∣ing, accompanied at the ends with four Pavilli∣ons, and in the middle the Avant-corps, which makes a fifth, set off with Pillars. On each side of the foresaid Court are two long Galleries a little lower than the rest of the Building, each supported with 9 Arches, under which one may walk dry round about the Court. The Front of all this Palace is after the manner of an open Gallery, with a kind of Dome in the middle supported with Pillars, under which is the great

Door butting upon the Ruë de Tournon; at the upper part of which Street this Palace is situa∣ted, which adds much to the beauty of its Ave∣nu••. At each end of the Galleries, and also of the two Tarrasses, which run along the fore-part of the Court, are two other great Pavillions, which stand in the same Line with the Face of the Build∣ing. The Architecture of this Palace consists of Pilasters, except about the great Portal, and on the Garden side before a little Dome, which serves for a Chapel, where are some Pillars which stand off from the Work. The Orders observed in this Work are the Tus∣can, and the Dorick, with an Attique above; and on the Garden side over the Tuscan and Dorick, is an Ionick, which makes a third Or∣der compleat, with Balustrades round about the top; as also Frontons and Faces, on which are great Statues in cumbent postures, supporting Crowns. This excellent Architecture is still more beautiful, by reason of the Bossage that runs all over the Work, no other Ornaments being necessary. All that you see here is ac∣cording to the plain and true Rules of Art, which is the cause that all those who are any thing knowing in Architecture, take more delight in considering this Palace, and observe more beau∣ties in it, than those who regard only the things without knowing the true value. This Palace is at present inhabited by two illustrious Princesses, Daughters of the late Duke of Orleans, only Brother of Lewis the XIII. On the left hand as you come in are the Apartments of Mademoisell d'Orleans, and on the right those of Madam the Dutchess of Guise, her Sister. In the first men∣tioned are several excellent Plasons, and very

rich Furniture; in the last among other things, you ought to see the Gallery painted by the Famous Rubens of Antwerp, who was invited from Flanders on purpose to paint it. These Paint∣ings are great Pictures on the Pannels between the Divisions, in which are represented the prin∣cipal actions of Henry the IV his Life, more espe∣cially those in which Mary of Medicis had any concern. No Man can desire to see any thing more exactly designed or better perform'd: but that which is most to be admired is the excellent Colouring which this famous Master used in his Works, in which thing he surpast all others. Often do the Young Painters come and study in this Gallery, and in regard it is all throughout of his manner, they may easily here learn the Ideas of Excellent Peinture. The Garden was formerly very beautiful, and full of little Groves and co∣ver'd Walks; but several hard Winters having killed many of the Trees, it hath been thought necessary to cut up the rest to make room for others, which they have already begun to plant; at the end of the great Walk, before the Parterre, they designed to make a Fountain; so much of it as is already made, is of a very good kind of Architecture. It is a kind of Niche, adorn'd in the fore-part with four great Tuscan Pillars, charg'd with Congelations, on which are Sea-Gods holding Vases, with a great Cartouche, in which are the Armes of France, and those of Me∣dicis impaled.

There is nothing more, very remarkable, un∣less it be the Balustrade of white Marble in the forepart of the Tarrasses, which inclose the Parterre; but it is not yet finisht. From hence you ought to go and visit