2. French Gardens
The French gardens of the 17th century, unlike the English gardens of the 18th century, came about as a result of top political figures who desired to display their wealth and power by seemingly subduing nature. The vast gardens at the Palace of Versailles, for example, were intended to make a powerful statement about the power and prestige of Louis XIV. [1] Efforts to evoke a sense of wonder about France’s famous monarch can be seen even in the palace’s amenities—such as the water features. The Bassin d'Apollo (Apollo Fountain) was commissioned by Louis XIV to pay homage to his self-given title of “Sun King”, since Apollo was (among other titles) the sun god. Versailles was also built with the king’s court in mind. This was an important factor because there were so many courtiers (anywhere between 3,000-10,000) at Versailles at any given time. All these people needed places to carry out courtly business and, frankly, to keep them from becoming bored. [2]
Bassin d'Apollo at Versailles.
Image Source: andrelenotre.com/bassin-apollon-versailles2-2/
The gardens at Versailles. Notice the axial symmetry and the well-defined geometry in the design.
Image Source: fiveminutehistory.com/versailles-the-grandest-palace-of-them-all/
Other French gardens were created with the intention of making a statement about the wealth of their owners. Château de Vaux le Vicomte is a prime example of this. The wealthy owner of this château desired to build a large house and gardens to serve not only as a statement of his social status, but also to have a place where he could entertain the most elite people—including Louis XIV himself. The man responsible for designing both Versailles and Vaux le Vicomte (many other châteaus and parks throughout France and other parts of Europe) was André Le Nôtre. He had a great reputation and was the official garden designer for Louis XIV.
Château de Vaux le Vicomte.
Image Source: www.ovsla.com
The French garden style certainly had a far reach: Peterholf Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England, and Caserta royal gardens near Naples, Italy are all examples of designs inspired by the genius of André Le Nôtre. His legacy even had a major influence on the landscapes of the United States. Perhaps the most notable example of this is found in the nation’s capital. The plan for Washington D.C. was, in fact, designed by the military engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant whose approach to design was informed by Le Nôtre’s use of axial alignment and radiating avenues. See the photos below and note the obvious similarity between Le Nôtre’s plan for Versailles and L’Enfant’s plan for Washington D.C.
L'Enfant's plan for Washington D.C.
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:L%27Enfant_plan.jpg
The plan for Versailles.
Image Source: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Versailles_Plan_Jean_Delagrive.jpg
The design principles established by Le Nôtre became the standard for French gardens and remained that way until the picturesque movement was ushered in. By the mid 18th century, the gardens of France began to be influenced in form and function by the jardin anglais—the English garden [3] (see the previous post in this series to learn more about English garden design). It is interesting to note that the French formal style changed rather rapidly during this century. According to Joseph Disponzio (a professor of landscape architecture at Colombia University and landscape architect with the City of New York), the baroque garden design theories of 17th century France were, “eclipsed without the slightest bit of protest or regret.” [4] During the 18th century, there was less emphasis on straight lines, strict geometry, and vulgar displays of wealth and power through landscaping. Claude-Henri Watelet, a wealthy Frenchman (1718-1786), who was also an artist, poet, and a connoisseur of garden design, encouraged landowners to build gardens and estates that were picturesque. Watelet wrote in his book Essay on Gardens that a country estate, for example, should be developed in such a way that it would be cohesive throughout. The decorative gardens, kitchen garden, stables, vineyards, and other amenities should work together both functionally and aesthetically. The garden, according to Watelet, also became a place where one could retire from the “whirlwind of society” because of the garden’s ability to get one away from the rigors of city life. [5]
Another influential French theorist and garden designer during the 18th century was Jean-Marie Morel. His book, Theorie des Jardins (Theory of Gardens) is an important source for picturesque landscape design theory in France. Building off his background in land surveying and gardening, Morel posited that landscapes should be designed in such a way that they work with the natural features of the existing land, rather than trying to subdue the land as was the case in the previous century. The land—according to Morel—should not be heavily manipulated during the design and construction of gardens because it's unnatural and requires an excessive amount of work to accomplish. The design principles Morel set forth in his book are similar to the principles promoted in the contemporary practice of landscape architecture as they encourage creating designs that seek to conserve nature rather than manipulate it. Unfortunately, very few of Morel’s design projects are still in existence. One of his most notable works that remains is Château d'Arcelot near the city of Dijon. A photo of this château can be seen below.
Château d'Arcelot designed by Jean-Marie Morel. A fine example of French picturesque garden design.
Image Source: http://www.cotedor-tourisme.com
The clean formality of the baroque French garden with its intricate parterres, neat straight lines, and strong axial symmetry, is a garden style that many desire to recreate. It is important to first consider the technical aspects and requirements associated with this type of design. For one, to successfully design and install a French garden, a substantial amount of flat land is desirable. Having a good, flat piece of land makes the construction and maintenance much easier and cheaper to manage than if a hilly plot of land was to be selected. This means assessing whether or not your property is suitable for a French styled garden early on in the design process. It is possible, however, to incorporate certain elements into the design of a hilly property. Careful thought and consideration must be given to achieve this successfully. For example, it is best to utilize formal features close to the house or to another structure on site. Using stricter geometry near a structure is appropriate for a number of reasons, including but not limited to:
The grade (shape of the ground) surrounding the structure will be more or less flat the closer you get to the building, thus setting a better starting point for a formal landscape to be constructed.
Design forms (i.e., axial symmetry, radiating, and perpendicular intersections) help to draw attention towards a building or other structure; this helps direct people as they move through the landscape.
And since a formal garden necessitates more maintenance, it is best to place it in a high traffic location—such as the main entryway of a house—to make it a worthwhile investment of time, labor, and money.
Although the gardens of France designed by Le Nôtre stand in their own right, it should be mentioned that he, and other French garden designers of that time period, were highly influenced by the gardens and villas built in Italy during the Renaissance. It follows logically that the next post in this series will be on the Italian garden.
If you’re interested in finding out if a French formal garden can work for your property, reach out today and see how Shippey Landscape Architecture can help!
Sources:
1. Rogers, Elizabeth Barlow. Landscape Design: A Cultural and Architectural History. New York: Harry N Abrams, 2001. Pages 166-167.
2. “Courtiers.” Palace of Versailles, Chateau De Versailles, 16 May 2017, en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/courtiers.
3. Disponzio, Joseph. Introduction. Essay on Gardens: A Chapter in French Picturesque, by Watelet, Claude-Henri, 1774, Translated by Samuel Danon, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 2003.
4. “Joseph Disponzio, " On the Theoretical and Practical Development of Landscape Architecture.’” Joseph Disponzio, " On the Theoretical and Practical Development of Landscape Architecture", Harvard Graduate School of Design, 29 Oct. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxqRRHWZhp8.
5. Watelet, Claude-Henri, 1774. Essay on Gardens: A Chapter in French Picturesque, Translated by Samuel Danon, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 2003.
Cover photo: The parterres at Vaux le Vicomte. Image source: http://www.yannarthusbertrand2.org/index.php?option=com_datsogallery&Itemid=27&func=detail&catid=3&id=986