Elevation for the Garden-Front of the Hotel de Brunoy, Faubourg St. Honoré, Paris 1779

Etienne Louis Boullée rendered this elevation for the garden-front of the Hotel de Brunoy in Paris using pen, black ink, and gray wash. Observe how the stoic sphinxes flank the stairs. Throughout history, these mythical creatures acted as guardians of sacred spaces. In ancient Egypt, they symbolized royal power and protection, often placed at the entrances of tombs and temples to ward off intruders. We see similar motifs in ancient Greece, where sphinxes guarded temples and were associated with wisdom and riddles, as in the legend of Oedipus. The resurgence of sphinxes in Neoclassical architecture reflects a fascination with antiquity, but also embodies a psychological need to connect with the past, evoking a sense of timelessness. The sphinx embodies a primal human need for protection. The image continues to engage viewers on a subconscious level, its stoic gaze triggering a sense of reverence and introspection. This cyclical progression highlights how ancient symbols resurface and take on new meanings across historical contexts.