Pierre Cailleteau

Who was Pierre Cailleteau?

Pierre Cailleteau was a French architect, also known as "Lassurance". He is not to be confused with his son Jean Cailleteau, also known as "Lassurance" who is sometimes nicknamed "Lassurance le Jeune" to distinguish from his father.

Biography: He was noticed by Jules Hardouin-Mansartin 1679 on the work-site of the Château de Clagny. In 1684, he started as a designer in the administration of the Bâtiments du Roi and played a major role in the new decoration of the royal residences. On the testimony of Saint-Simon, Hardouin-Mansart "was ignorant in his trade, and of Robert De Cotte his brother-in-law, it was hardly less. They both took an artist that they held close and secret to themselves, that was Lassurance, without which they could do nothing."

Lassurance is attributed to most of the decorative sketches commissioned for the Château de Versailles and the Trianon de Marbre around 1690: the King's apartments in the left wing of Trianon and the apartments of the Duchess of Burgundy. He allowed the panelling to continue to the ceiling, which he decorated with Rinceaux, Acanthus leaves and images of playing children. He introduced arcades in basket handle falling again on consoles, mirror panelling and fireplace surroundings to support height.