Tracing the Cartouche

The Church of the Gesù’s Façade was the start of the baroque movement. Its fundamental elements can be traced through the entire period and many regions. For example the buildings' cartouche, figure in the shape of an oval, can be traced from Rome to Spain, France, England, Portugal, Germany, and Eastern Europe.

Germany

Balthasar Neumann, Vierzehnheiligen, 1743-72, Bamberg, façade

Eastern Europe

Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, Prague, 1780, K. I. Dientzenhofer, façade

Spain

Conrad Rudolf: Valencia Cathedral Valencia, 1713, façade

Portugal

Niccolo Nasoni, Dos Clerigos Church and Tower, Oporto, 1732-50, façade

France

Francois Mansart, Chateau de Maisons, garden façade, Maisons-lafitte, 1641-50

England

Bluecoat Chambers, Liverpool, 1717. Architect unknown, façade