Seventeenth-century garden theory in France : its culmination at Vaux-le-Vicomte

Note:The palace and gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte were created between 1656 and 1661 for the flamboyant French patron of the arts Nicolas Foucquet, Louis XIV's first finance minister. In imitation of his predécèssors, Foucquet required a country residence and jardin de plaisir worthy of his status. The end results are the fabulous gardens and chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Unlike its prototypes, this complex had an unexpected and far-reaching influence throughout Europe. For the first time, Foucquet brought together the great triumvirate composed of Louis Le Vau, Charles LeBrun and Andre LeNostre who would later develop their ideas even further at Versailles. But in the end, scholars have agreed to designate Vaux-le-Vicomte as the first palace-garden complex of the true monumental French formal manner. Yet, despite this recognition, it is often neglected by garden historians in favor of its immediate successor, Versailles. By examining garden treatises and theories published at both the close of the sixteenth century and beginning of the seventeenth century, this thesis attempts to present Vaux-le-Vicomte as the ultimate end product of several generations of garden theorists. The conclusions of this study suggest that Vaux-le-Vicomte should be recognized as playing a more significant role within the context of formal palace and garden design not only in seventeenth-century France but in other parts of Europe as well.The palace and gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte were created between 1656 and 1661 for the flamboyant French patron of the arts Nicolas Foucquet, Louis XIV's first finance minister. In imitation of his predécèssors, Foucquet required a country residence and jardin de plaisir worthy of his status. The end results are the fabulous gardens and chateau of Vaux-le-Vicomte. Unlike its prototypes, this complex had an unexpected and far-reaching influence throughout Europe. For the first time, Foucquet brought together the great triumvirate composed of Louis Le Vau, Charles LeBrun and Andre LeNostre who would later develop their ideas even further at Versailles. But in the end, scholars have agreed to designate Vaux-le-Vicomte as the first palace-garden complex of the true monumental French formal manner. Yet, despite this recognition, it is often neglected by garden historians in favor of its immediate successor, Versailles. By examining garden treatises and theories published at both the close of the sixteenth century and beginning of the seventeenth century, this thesis attempts to present Vaux-le-Vicomte as the ultimate end product of several generations of garden theorists. The conclusions of this study suggest that Vaux-le-Vicomte should be recognized as playing a more significant role within the context of formal palace and garden design not only in seventeenth-century France but in other parts of Europe as well