Tomb of Francis I and Claude de France

The tomb of Francis I is Delorme’s solution to the problem of producing a classical version of the type of tomb invented by the Giusti for Louis XII. It is in general design a Roman triumphal arch with the side arches set back from the plane of the principal front. The use of coloured marbles is skilful and the decorative detail, for much of which Pierre Bontemps seems to have been responsible, is superb. Delorme shows astonishing skill in making a coherent whole out of such a mass of detail.