Étienne-Louis Boullée, Newton’s Cenotaph, 1780-93

This is the façade of Newton's cenotaph, possibly Boullée’s most emblematic project. A project that allows us to understand what he meant by saying that the architect should aim at the sublime. A concept that we should not relate exclusively to the greatness.

Étienne-Louis Boullée (1728-1799) wanted to be a painter and ended up studying architecture at Jacques-François Blondel’s school, owing to parental pressure. At the age of 19 he became a teacher at the École des Ponts et Chausées, at 34 was admitted as a second class member at the Académie d'Architecture and at 52 as a first class member, until the National Convention abolished the Academy in 1793. He was one of the founders of the Institut National des Sciences et des Arts in 1795. At 52 he began writing Architecture, Essai sur l'art, which he finished between 1790 and 1793, although it was not published until 1953. His book is illustrated with drawings of projects for public buildings he designed between 1778 and 1788: churches, palaces, courts, assemblies, theaters, libraries, museums, city gates, memorial arches, bridges, lighthouses, cemeteries, cenotaphs…After his death, his figure was forgotten, hidden behind the published work of Ledoux and Durand; he was despised by the classics, who saw him as an eccentric seeking to overthrow traditions, and by the moderns who made him responsible for the neoclassical deviations towards historicism and plagiarism. His book contains the key to the understanding of architecture drawing, namely Newton's cenotaph.

Blondel said that the building is to find greatness. He particularly said: I tried to apply all the models the nature and art offered me in order to present the image of thegreat(Architecture. Essay on art. GG, pg. 70).

Then follows: The picture ofthe great has such sway over our senses that, even if we consider it horrible, it always provokes us a feeling of admiration. A volcano spewing lava and death is a terribly beautiful image! ...Greatness is directly related to beauty and, under different meanings, it is the same whether objects are pleasant or horrifying. Looking grand in anything means revealing superior qualities(Essay, p. 76). It is an argument that matches the concept of the sublime expounded by Edmund Burke.

He also said: the image of greatness satisfies us in every aspect because our soul, eager to extend its joys, seems ready to embrace the Universe (Essay. p. 59).

Besides from large size, the sublime is achieved by simple forms. He said: Why does the regular shaped figure emphasized at first sight? Because its faces are regular and recurrent and because its form is simple...We distinguish them thanks to the image of order that their regularity and symmetry suggest... The regularity sets the beauty of form; symmetry, order, and overall beauty; variety produces various levels by means of which they are diversified to us ... Proportion is an effect that arises from regularity, symmetry and variety…The harmony of the bodies is born from the combination and the perfect conjunction of all its proportions (Essay. p. 56).

Such assessments are those that justify this building’s form.
 

Basically, the building is a large sphere that represents both the land and Newton’s discoveries. Its access can be gained through the base and, despite its size, only a small area of such base can be occupied. Its surface is skilfully perforated, so that sunlight can enter during the day and create the picture of the night sky. At night a great source of artificial light in the centre portrays the daytime image .
 

Light represents Newton, lighting the knowledge of mankind.

From the outside, one can only see half the sphere, supported by two cylinders. Around this sphere, along its perimeter, Boullée places rows of trees. This image recalls Roman tradition in the great mausoleums of Augustus and Hadrian, even though they are different building types, since a mausoleum is a grave and a cenotaph is a monument dedicated to the memory of someone, but inside which no body is preserved.

Boullée’s idea coincides with the epitaph written by Alexander Pope in 1732: Nature and the laws of nature were hidden at night. God said, “Let Newton be born!” and all was light.

Following the text of his Essai sur l'art : “To produce sad and dark images it is necessary to present architecture by means of a completely bare wall, as I intendedin some funerary buildings, showing a picture of sunkenarchitecture by means of low proportions and buried into the ground; in short, give shape, by means of light absorbing materials, to the dark image of an architecture defined by the shadow effect. This type of shadow-integrated architecture is an artistic discovery that belongs to me ... (Essay, p.71)

Boullée describes it as the basilica or metropolitan church of Corpus Christi Day, as he says: a house of holiness inhabited by the most worthy ministers of religion. The scenic effect is obvious in the interior perspective drawing: the light on the altar, around the cross, the priest in ecstasy, the faithful ascending the stairs and kneeling in the contemplation of the miracle of the Eucharist.

Boullée describes it as the basilica or metropolitan church of Corpus Christi Day, as he says: a house of holiness inhabited by the worthiest ministers of religion. The scenic effect is obvious in the interior perspective drawing: the light at the altar, around the cross, the priest in ecstasy, the faithful ascending the stairs and kneeling in contemplation of the miracle of the Eucharist.