Soufflot, Jacques Germain (1713–1780)

French architect. He accompanied the Marquis de Marigny (brother of Louis's XV's mistress, Mme de Pompadour) on a tour of Italy in 1749 which marks the transition in France from the rococo style to the style known as neoclassicism.

Soufflot was born at Irancy. He studied for several years in Rome. In Lyons he made his reputation with the Hôtel Dieu (1740). After further study in Rome, he returned to Paris, and in 1755 won the competition for the church of St Genevieve (built around 1757), which is now called the Pantheon.