François Derand

François Derand (born between 1588 and 1591, Vic-sur-Seille;[1] died 29 October 1644, Agde[2]) was a French Jesuit architect.

After studying for the noviciate in Rouen, then at the Jesuit college in La Flèche (where he taught maths for two years), he was ordained a priest in 1621 and entered the Society of Jesus.

Initially he lived in Rouen then Rennes, where he was consulted on the work to rebuild the Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans.

He also took part in several other works - the altarpiece of Laval and the high altar of the Jesuit church at La Flèche.

In 1643 he published 'L’architecture des voûtes', a treatise on stereotomy that is considered his masterwork.