Gabriel Davioud

The Fontaine Saint-Michel in Paris, designed by Davioud, 1855-60.

Jean-Antoine-Gabriel Davioud (French: [ʒan‿ɑ̃twɑn ɡabʁiɛl davju]; 30 October 1824 – 6 April 1881) was a French architect.

Biography

Davioud was born in Paris and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under Léon Vaudoyer. After winning a Second Grand Prix de Rome, he was named inspector general for architectural works in Paris, and chief architect for its parks and public spaces.

As a colleague of the urban planner Baron Haussmann, he designed much of the characteristic Parisian street furniture: benches, pavilions, bandstands, fountains, lampposts, signposts, fences and balustrades, jetties, monuments, as well as a number of landmark buildings.

Among his most notable works are the popular Saint-Michel Fountain in Place Saint-Michel, the old Palais du Trocadéro (demolished 1937), and the two theatres at the Place du Châtelet (the Théâtre du Châtelet and the Théâtre de la Ville.)

In 1868, Davioud succeeded Jacques Landry as mayor of Houlgate, where he stayed until 1871. His mandate was interrupted when he was appointed capitaine du génie during the Franco-Prussian War. Noted for his work in Paris, he built a single villa in Houlgate, La Brise, on the Route de Caumont.

Selected works

Fontaine Saint-Michel in Paris
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gabriel Davioud.

(See also Fountains in Paris)

References