Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Claude Perrault Born at Paris,
1613; died there, 1688. He built the main eastern façade of the
Louvre, known as the "Colonnade". His extraordinary talent and
versatility brought up on him much enmity and detraction,
especially in his architectural work. He achieved success as
physician and anatomist, as architect and author. As physician
and physicist, he received the degree of doctor from the
University of Paris, became one of the first members of the
Academy of Sciences founded in 1666, and repeatedly won prizes
for his thorough knowledge of physics and chemistry. He was the
author of a series of treatises on physics and zoology, as well
as on certain interesting machines of his own invention. Colbert
induced him to translate Vitruvius, and this work inspired him
with enthusiasm for architecture. Like his contemporary,
Blondel, he contributed to revive the feeling for the rules and
principles in architecture. His Vitruvius with a good commentary
and tables appeared in 1673, and