André Le Nôtre

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A portrait of André Le Nôtre by Carlo Maratta.

André Le Nôtre (March 12, 1613 - September 15 1700) was a landscape architect and the gardener of King Louis XIV of France from 1645 to 1700. Most notably, he was responsible for the construction of the park of the Palace of Versailles. His planning was significant as well, at the Tuileries he extended the vista westward, which would later become the avenue of the Champs-Élysées[1] and comprise the Axe historique.

Le Nôtre's other work included the design of many gardens and parks, including those of Chantilly, Chateau Fontainebleau, Racconigi, Saint-Cloud, Saint-Germain-en-Laye and St. James's Park. He also collaborated with Louis Le Vau and Charles Le Brun on the park of the Vaux-le-Vicomte. André Le Nôtre's father, Jean Le Nôtre was the gardener of Louis XIII of France.

Plan view of the gardens of Versailles

His life

Becoming a gardener

André Le Nôtre was born to a family of gardeners. His father and grandfather were responsible for the jardin des Tuileries. His godfather administered gardens and the husband of his godmother, Claude Mollet was an illustrious gardener. Andre thus lived in a family of gardeners and quickly acquired both practical and theoretical knowledge.

A studious adolescence

He also was interested in other arts but eventually returned to his future career as gardener to the king. He learned mathematics, painting and architecture. He then entered the workshop of Simon Vouet, painter of King Louis XIII. He learned classical art and perspective, and afterwards the friend of Charles Le Brun, François Mansart, permitted him to study architecture for several years.

At the age of 40, he decided to become a gardener, with all the competence he had acquired from his previous artistic experiences.

Debut as a gardener

Gardens of château de Vaux-le-Vicomte.

André Le Nôtre debuted in his career with the project of the gardens of château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, initiated by Nicolas Fouquet. He then worked in partnership with Louis Le Vau and Charles Le Brun. The building site made him famous in the gardening world.

On September 10, 1661, three weeks after having entertained the young King Louis XIV in an extravagant party, Fouquet was arrested by d'Artagnan and his greatest artists were taken to work at Versailles. Among them was André Le Nôtre who was hired by Louis XIV to rehabilitate the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. He also laid out the radiating city plan of Versailles which included the largest avenue yet seen in Europe, the Avenue de Paris. He then designed and realized a number of projects throughout France.

Later years

He was involved in a number of projects in France and had many disciples. In 1679, he visited Italy.

Le Nôtre died at the age of 87 in September 1700. He left behind a number of formal gardens, recognizable for their perspective and their geometric perfection, known and recognized throughout the world.

Biographical timeline

Parterres and orange trees outside the Orangerie on the grounds of Versailles.

List of principal gardens of Le Nôtre

Gardens of château de Chantilly.

Avenues

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Dominique Garrigues. Jardins et jardiniers de Versailles au Grand Siècle. Editions Champ Vallon. ISBN 2876733374 Pg. 282.

Further reading

  • Thompson, Ian. The Sun King's Garden: Louis XIV, André Le Nôtre And the Creation of the Gardens of Versailles. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2006 (hardcover, ISBN 1582346313).

External links

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