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Plan of a garden drawn by Charles Carbonnet
under the instructions of André Le Nôtre

While drawings by Le Nôtre are rare, there are many more from his assistants and students, such as Charles Carbonnet whose father had previously worked for Le Nôtre. The drawings were sometimes multi-handed, like in this example where Le Nôtre makes comments on his conception of the site after Carbonnet had sent him a preliminary drawing describing the site and its possibilities. Circa 1690, Bibliothèque de l'Institut de France, Paris.

Sketch for a fountain,
by André Le Nôtre

Le Nôtre was a genuine draughtsman and hydraulics engineer. On this drawing, next to a quickly sketched fountain, there is a spontaneously drawn character. 17th century, Bibliothèque de l'Institut de France, Paris.

Jesus and Mary,
by the school of Guido Reni

This painting is an anamorphosis, that is an image which can be deformed, broken up or distended. It only makes sense when the viewer is in the position planned by the creator of the work. Seen from the front, the two figures are interlocked. When the viewer moves to the right or left, he sees them separately, with series of opposite facets. 17th century, Werner Nekes Collection.

Le Nôtre
at work
ROOM N°4

Le Nôtre had all the knowledge and know-how of his profession, including land surveying and levelling. Through his apprenticeship with Vouet, his experience on numerous work sites and his duties as General Controller of Buildings, he gained other competencies, those of an architect and hydraulics engineer. He mastered the anamorphosis techniques which gave numerous painters the inspiration to create strange artworks appreciated by curio enthusiasts. Le Nôtre managed to develop curio-cabinet ideas on the scale of gardens and parks.

Crédits

© RMN-Grand Palais (Institut de France) / Christophe Chavan
© RMN-Grand Palais (Institut de France) / Gérard Blot
©RMN-Grand Palais (Institut de France) / Christophe Chavan
© Collection Werner Nekes.

1 Le Nôtre: the art collector 2 Training, career,
honours and achievements 3 A territory
for the art of Le Nôtre 4 LE NÔTRE
at work 5 AXES
AND VIEWPOINTS 6 Open spaces 7 Enclosed spaces 8 Heritage and modernity
of le Nôtre

Le Nôtre
at work

Plan of a garden drawn by Charles Carbonnet
under the instructions of André Le Nôtre
While drawings by Le Nôtre are rare, there are many more from his assistants and students, such as Charles Carbonnet whose father had previously worked for Le Nôtre. The drawings were sometimes multi-handed, like in this example where Le Nôtre makes comments on his conception of the site after Carbonnet had sent him a preliminary drawing describing the site and its possibilities. Circa 1690, Bibliothèque de l'Institut de France, Paris.

ROOM N°4

Le Nôtre had all the knowledge and know-how of his profession, including land surveying and levelling. Through his apprenticeship with Vouet, his experience on numerous work sites and his duties as General Controller of Buildings, he gained other competencies, those of an architect and hydraulics engineer. He mastered the anamorphosis techniques which gave numerous painters the inspiration to create strange artworks appreciated by curio enthusiasts.Le Nôtre managed to develop curio-cabinet ideas on the scale of gardens and parks.