# Exterior view [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [LEMERCIER, Jacques]() - Date: 1601-1650 - Technique: Photo ## Commentary The church of the Sorbonne \(the university of Paris\) is a centralized structure. Dominated by its dome, with a short transept, lengthened transverse arms, and side chapels, it has a similar ground plan to that of the Roman church of San Carlo ai Catinari. The ground floor of the west façade is dominated by massive Corinthian columns reinforced at the corners, but reduced to pilasters on the upper storey. Powerful entablatures emphasize the horizontal lines. A different design is used for the courtyard façade; the stepped effect of the temple front, triumphal arch, hipped roof, and tambour dome give the picturesque effect of a stage set, a completely idiosyncratic combination of classical and Baroque elements. The picture shows the courtyard façade. View the <a href="\#" onClick="w=window.open \('/support/plans/l/lemercie/sorbonne.html', 'newWin', 'scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=400,height=600'\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return false">ground plan</a> of the church of the Sorbonne. ## Related artworks - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Bird's-eye view of the Palais-Cardinal]() - [Exterior view]() - [Exterior view]() - [Exterior view]() - [Exterior view]() - [Exterior view]() - [Exterior view]() - [Façade of Hôtel de Liancourt]() - [Reconstruction of Château de Richelieu]() - [View of the Château de Richelieu]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()