Gregg Versailles gardens background

Background and Introduction

The Château de Versailles is a rags to riches story among Baroque architecture. In the middle of a field which was once neglected, the palace and surrounding gardens are renowned for their spectacular construction and exquisite detail. The grounds, known generally as le parc were designed by André Le Nôtre who “raise[d] the art of garden-craft to a height it has never attained since, and of course had never been reached previously” Although the inspiration for the gardens came from the Italian renaissance, the gardens of Versailles are in a league all their own. French Baroque architecture blossomed during the reign of Louis XIV because it is all about absolute power and overwhelming strength, the likes of which had not been experienced in Europe for many years—and Louis XVI had it.

The Château de Versailles emerged from very humble beginnings. The word versailles itself comes is of uncertain origin but seems to be from the Latin versare meaning “to keep turning over” and was used in medieval times in the agricultural context of plowed land. It bears a resemblance to the French semailles which means “sown seeds”. This etymology is interesting because Versailles is associated with splendor and absolute power, and yet its very name brings it back to its original state of being a neglected piece of land. Louis XIII had a small hunting lodge on the site, but it was Louis XIV who began to restructure the location into an icon of absolute power and timeless domination. The relationship between Louis the XIII and Louis XIV is exemplified in their treatment of Versailles . Louis XIII was not an effective leader and France did not flourish under his rule. His reign came to an end in 1643 but because his son Louis XIV was merely four years old, his rule did not truly begin until 1661.

Although Versailles is impressive, it was not the first of its kind. The Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte was constructed before it, from 1657-

61. It is the structure with which “design team” for Versailles made its debut. André Le Nôtre was the son of Jean LeNôtre, who was “an obscure under-gardener” . André had the great fortune to gain an apprenticeship with the prominent court-painter Vouet, which is where he also met Le Brun. In 1656, Le Nôtre was commissioned to lay the landscape for the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte , which became the model for Château de Versailles and also the reason why he received the mandate to design the grounds of Versailles . Le Vau, who designed the exterior of Vaux-le-Vicomte was also on the commission. Versailles is regarded as the most important of all the château constructed during this period.

Briggs, Martin Shaw “ Baroque Art ” 1967 Da Capo Press

André Le Nôtre