Discover the art of #LeNôtre: his training, his career and his works

Self-portrait,
by Simon Vouet

On his return from Italy in 1627, Simon Vouet was a very famous painter. At the request of Louis XIII, he became first painter to the King and was given an apartment and studio under the Grande Galerie of the Louvre. In his studio, which was one of the most famous of its time, Vouet organised courses for young artists. Le Nôtre trained there for some five years. He perfected the drawing techniques he had learned from his father. Circa 1626-1627, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.

Perspective view of the city and Palace of Versailles
from Butte Montbauron,
by Jean-Baptiste Martin the Elder

This perspective view of the gardens of Versailles shows the components of the French formal garden. Le Nôtre used existing structures but completely transformed them: the terraces were extended and the parterres were lengthened. Avenues and paths stretched further and further. Fountains, canals, groves and statues were added to give structure to the various part of the garden. Circa 1690, Palace of Versailles,

Visit of Louis XIV to Juvisy,
by Pierre-Denis Martin

For the park of the château of Juvisy, since Le Nôtre could not create a perspective which lined up with the building, he tailored his creation to the specificities of the site. Making use of the site's various elevations and water resources, he created the structures that were dear to him: canals, terraces, parterres, groves, paths and waterfalls. Circa 1690, Victoria &Albert Museum, London.

Training, career,
honours and achievements
ROOM N°2

The career of André le Nôtre, who worked tirelessly for 65 years, started well before his work for Fouquet in the gardens of Vaux le Vicomte and didn't end when he resigned from his duties in 1693. After a family apprenticeship and a period in the workshop of the painter Simon Vouet, he was appointed Head Gardener to Gaston d’Orléans, brother of Louis XIII, in 1635. Being a King's officer through inheritance of his father's duties, he became ordinary gardener to the King (in charge of the Tuileries gardens) and designer of the King's plants and gardens then he was appointed Advisor to the King and General Controller of Buildings, Arts and Factories. In 1660, he started to work in earnest for Louis XIV who asked him to work on the royal residences. He accepted additional requests from the royal family and Louis XIV’s ministers.

Crédits

© Lyon MBA/ Photo Alain Basset
© Château de Versailles, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Jean-Marc Manaï
© Pelham Galleries by courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum

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

Training, career,
honours and achievements

Self-portrait,
by Simon Vouet,
On his return from Italy in 1627, Simon Vouet was a very famous painter. At the request of Louis XIII, he became first painter to the King and was given an apartment and studio under the Grande Galerie of the Louvre. In his studio, which was one of the most famous of its time, Vouet organised courses for young artists. Le Nôtre trained there for some five years. He perfected the drawing techniques he had learned from his father. Circa 1626-1627, Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.

ROOM N°2

The career of André le Nôtre, who worked tirelessly for 65 years, started well before his work for Fouquet in the gardens of Vaux le Vicomte and didn't end when he resigned from his duties in 1693. After a family apprenticeship and a period in the workshop of the painter Simon Vouet, he was appointed Head Gardener to Gaston d’Orléans, brother of Louis XIII, in 1635. Being a King's officer through inheritance of his father's duties, he became ordinary gardener to the King (in charge of the Tuileries gardens) and designer of the King's plants and gardens then he was appointed Advisor to the King and General Controller of Buildings, Arts and Factories. In 1660, he started to work in earnest for Louis XIV who asked him to work on the royal residences. He accepted additional requests from the royal family and Louis XIV’s ministers.