82 



GARDEN CRAFT IN EUROPE 



They also poured water — one would have said the rock itself exuded water.'* 

 In building the Palace of the Luxembourg (illus., pp. 80, 82), Marie 

 de Medici was particularly desirous that it should resemble the archi- 

 tecture of the Pitti Palace which belonged to her family. It was one of 

 the earliest instances in France of a palace and garden being considered 



as one whole design. 

 There was a magnifi- 

 cent scheme of foun- 

 tains, and the water 

 supply was brought 

 from Arcueil in a 

 monumental aque- 

 duct. The " Fontaine 

 de Medicis" (p. 81), 

 said to have been 

 designed by Rubens, 

 may still be admired 

 to the east of the 

 palace. It represents 

 Polyphemus surprising 

 Acis and Galatea. The 

 parterre at the Lux- 

 embourg, as shown in 

 the engravings of 

 Israel Silvestre, must 

 have been a marvel- 

 lous creation. John 

 Evelyn says that — " it 

 is so rarely designed 

 and accurately kept 

 cut, that the embroidery makes a wonderful effect to the lodgings which 

 front it." 



The most famous garden in the neighbourhood of Paris before the 

 creation of Versailles, was that of Saint Germain-en-Laye, which 

 was justly considered one of the marvels of the age. The old fortress of 

 St. Germain was rebuilt in 1367 by Charles V, and again in 1540 by 



IN THE LUXEMBOURG GARDEN. 



