Meissonier, Juste Aurèle

Meissonier, Juste Aurèle zhüst ōrĕl´ māsônyā´ [key], 1695–1750, French designer, b. Turin. At first a goldsmith, in 1724 he was appointed designer to the king under Louis XV, a position he held until his death. Meissonier designed mainly interiors, usually in a novel, capricious, and asymmetrical manner. His only complete architectural venture was the house of Léon de Brethous, Paris (1733; now the Chamber of Commerce). Several volumes of his engravings were of great importance in spreading the rococo style throughout Europe.

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