“Prince of the Renaissance”
When François’ was born in 1494, he was the second cousin of the second cousin to the French King — a long way from the throne. However, against the odds, at the age of 20 François became King of France.
Most of the millions of visitors to France have no idea the vital role he played in so many sites they visit.
François brought the Italian Renaissance to France, assembling a magnificent collection of Italian paintings and statues. His favourite residence was the Chateau of Fontainebleau. Artists such as Primaticcio, Fiorentino and Cellini worked there and sculptures and paintings by artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were displayed (the Mona Lisa was originally in Francois’ bath apartment there).
In Paris, François started the rebuilding of the Louvre as the main royal residence as well as building a new Hôtel de Ville.*
His interest in architecture resulted in him building or reconstructing seven chateaux in fifteen years. Given this lasting legacy and his contribution to the arts, it is interesting that, like his contemporary Henry VIII of England, most biographers seem to concentrate on François’ love life.
