Editing Panthéon (section)

===Construction===
<gallery mode="packed" heights="180">
File:Premier projet du Panthéon Soufflot (1756).png|Soufflot's original plan for the Church of Sainte Genevieve (1756)
File:Panthéon Soufflot - élevation principale.png|Soufflot's final plan: the principal façade (1777)
File:Coupe-Panthéon-Coupoles-Paris-France-1881.jpg|Soufflot's plan of the three domes, one within another
File:Panthéon de Paris 2012-10-11 n1.jpg|Looking upward at the first and second domes
File:Coupe-Panthéon-Armatures-Paris-France-1881.jpg|Iron rods were used to give greater strength and stability to the stone structure (1758–90)
</gallery>
[[Louis XV of France|King Louis XV]] vowed in 1744 that if he recovered from his illness he would replace the dilapidated church of the [[Abbey of St Genevieve]] with a grander building worthy of the patron saint of Paris. He did recover, but ten years passed before the reconstruction and enlargement of the church was begun. In 1755 The Director of the King's public works, [[Abel-François Poisson, marquis de Marigny]], chose [[Jacques-Germain Soufflot]] to design the church. Soufflot (1713–1780) had studied classical architecture in Rome over 1731–38. Most of his early work was done in Lyon. Saint Genevieve became his life's work; it was not finished until after his death.<ref>{{cite book|first=Moshe|last=Sluhovsky|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T71rv5GwI0QC&q=King+Louis+XV+1744+St+Genevieve&pg=PA142 |title=Patroness of Paris: Rituals of Devotion in Early Modern France |publisher=Brill|date=1998|isbn=9004108513 }}</ref>

His first design was completed in 1755, and was clearly influenced by the work of [[Bramante]], which he had studied in Italy. It took form of a [[Greek cross]], with four naves of equal length, and monumental dome over the crossing in the centre, and a classical portico with [[Corinthian columns]] and a [[peristyle]] with a triangular pediment on the main façade.<ref>{{harvnb|Oudin|1994|p=479}}</ref> The design was modified five times over the following years, with the addition of a [[narthex]], a choir, and two towers. The design was not finalised until 1777.<ref>{{harvnb|Lebeurre|2000|p=9}}</ref>

The foundations were laid in 1758, but due to economic problems work proceeded slowly. In 1780, Soufflot died and was replaced by his student [[Jean-Baptiste Rondelet]]. The re-modelled Abbey of St. Genevieve was finally completed in 1790, shortly after the beginning of the [[French Revolution]].

The building is 110 metres long by 84 metres wide, and 83 metres high, with the crypt beneath of the same size. The ceiling was supported by isolated columns, which supported an array of [[barrel vaults]] and [[transverse arch]]es. The massive dome was supported by [[pendentives]] rested upon four massive pillars. Critics of the plan contended that the pillars could not support such a large dome. Soufflot strengthened the stone structure with a system of iron rods, a predecessor of modern reinforced buildings. The bars had deteriorated by the 21st century, and a major restoration project to replace them was carried out between 2010 and 2020.<ref>{{harvnb|Lebeurre|2000|pp=9–10}}</ref>

The dome is actually three domes, fitting within each other. The first, lowest dome, has a coffered ceiling with rosettes, and is open in the centre. Looking through this dome, the second dome is visible, decorated with the fresco ''The Apotheosis of Saint Genevieve'' by [[Antoine Gros]]. The outermost dome, visible from the outside, is built of stone bound together with iron cramps and covered with lead sheathing, rather than of carpentry construction, as was the common French practice of the period. Concealed [[buttresses]] inside the walls give additional support to the dome.<ref>{{harvnb|Lebeurre|2000|pp=12–13}}</ref>