French Gardening and Its Master 



PLAN OF THE GARDENS AND PARK 



accounts of his dealings with his artists of various ivinds, that 

 the Grand Monarque was far from being what an architect 

 would call an easy client. He had ideas of his own, thought 

 he knew it all better than the cleverest of others, made changes 

 from beginning to end during the progress of the work ; and 

 indulged, without a thought of the other man, in all those 

 annoyances which, if they were not at times so difficult to 

 bear with, we should call petty. But with all that, he recog- 

 nized very substantially, in honors, in pecuniary grants, and, 

 best of all, in enlarged opportunities for work, his indebted- 

 ness to those who worked for him. Le Notre was a consum- 

 mate courtier, never for a moment presuming to a semblance 

 of social equality with the great nobles for whom he worked ; 

 but at the same time giving rein, in their presence, to the 

 charming child-like good nature and enthusiasm which was so 

 important a factor in his success. Those who employed him 

 loved him, and he made his way, and got his way, quite as 

 much, probably, by the exercise of his personal charm as by 

 bringing into play the more masterful powers of his intellect. 



