Biography

De Fleury was born in Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

.

After a scientific course pursued at the Ecole Polytechnique

École Polytechnique

The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...

 at Paris, he studied sculpture

Sculpture

Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...

, but abandoned this for architecture in 1825. He designed several public and private buildings in Paris and was the author of the first edition of the Manuel des lois du bâtiment published by the Central Society of Architects (1862).

He devoted the last years of his life to religious archaeology, publishing the important results of his studies in the following magnificently illustrated works: Les instruments de la Passion (1870); L'évangile, études iconographiques et archéologiques (1874); La Sainte Vièrge (1878) (Two volumes); Un Tabernacle chrétien du Ve siècle (1880); La Messe, études archéologiques sur ses monuments (1883-98).

De Fleury died at Paris in 1875. Some of his works were published posthumously by his son George (1835-1905) who was himself a prominent archaeological writer. The latter's works treat of Italian art-monuments: Monuments de Pise au moyen âge (1866); La Toscane au moyen âge, lettres sur l'architecture civile et militaire en 1400 (1874); Le Latran au moyen âge (1877).

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia article