Villa d'Agescy

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

The construction of the villa of Bernard d'Agescy dates to the beginning of the 19th century. It is said to have initiated the implantation of the neo-classical style in the city of Niort. At the end of the 19th century, the painter Germain buys the villa and installs a studio there as well as a museum in the street-facing part. This building running alongside the Avenue Alsace-Lorraine must predate the installation of d'Agescy. A glass roof lights this former studio from the roof. A neo-classical portal in front of the north porch of the building, and a small edifice with niche and triangular pediment to the south, must have been added by d'Agescy. The villa, of rectangular plan, is situated on steeply sloping ground and rests to the east on a plinth wall forming a slight slope. The elevation on the courtyard comprises three spaced bays. The lateral gables with two bays are ornamented with triangular pediments. The east elevation comprises two floors of plinth, a raised ground floor and a main floor. Two round-arch arcades sheltering French doors have been opened at the first plinth level on the south gable. Pilasters at the corners with Tuscan capitals support an entablature and the cornice. A double band separates the principal floors from the plinth. The interior has been refurbished.