Louis XIII made the first move in reconstructing Versailles ,but much like his rule, the changes were weak and Louis XIV later modified many of them. XIII kept the size of the gardens the same, but the composition was changed. In front of the château on the Western Terrace, some of the earliest examples of “brodierie” were constructed. Broiderie is “garden ‘embroidery' composed of shrubbery or flowers planted in ribbon patterns set off by sand or fine gravel and surrounded by small plant beds” . This technique was much more creative and elaborate than anything ever seen before in garden work. Two designers take credit for the same technique: Jaques Boyceau de la Baraudiere and Claude Mallet. It was actually Boyceau's nephew who was officially on the project, but he was inevitably involved in the production. Boyceau dies before the completion of the redesign in 1639, which actually involved Mallet.

Louis XIII

These are two examples of "broiderie" at Versaille in present day. Notice how the shrubbery is pristinely manicured and lined with crushed gravel. On the left, this terrace is found near the Orangery while on the right this fleurs-de-lis is found in the western terrace.

De Monclos, Jean-Marie Perouse “ Versailles ” 1997 Abbeville Press

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