LE NOTRE AND VERSAILLES 



89 



a magnificent piece cCeau^ to the right was a maze, and to the left a splendid 

 cascade. The entrance front of the cour d^ entree is closed by a wrought-iron 

 grille with a series of stone terms modelled by Poussin. - Le Notre had for 

 chief fontainier one Claude Roubillard and for gardener Antoine Trumel. The 

 gardens still retain many of their herceaux and 'palisades just as Le Notre left 

 them, and have been less changed than any of his other great schemes ; the 

 parterres have been altered, but the terraces, the fountains, and charming 

 perspectives are perhaps more beautiful than in Fouquet's day, having an 

 added beauty in their setting 

 of large trees. 



Before considering the 

 work of Le Notre at Ver- 

 sailles it is important to follow 

 him at Chantilly, where he 

 carried out very extensive 

 designs for the great Conde. 

 It is also important to note 

 that the works at Chantilly 

 are of earlier date than Ver- 

 sailles, and great as may be 

 the difference in size of the 

 two it is nevertheless certain 

 that it was after his famous 

 visit to Conde at Chantilly 

 that Louis XIV determined 

 to entrust the whole of the 

 works at Versailles to Le 



Notre. We have already seen how a century earlier the Constable Anne 

 de Montmorency remodelled the gardens. They remained in this form 

 until the great Conde took up his residence, and like his ancestors employed 

 his leisure in completely transforming and beautifying the chateau. Natural 

 conditions of the soil gave Le Notre greater opportunities than he had had 

 atVaux. He transformed a rapid stream, "La Nonette " into a broad 

 canal and piece d'eau known as "La Manche," which advanced towards the 

 chateau and divided the two great parterres. An aqueduct supplied the 

 fountains and the moat, and an elaborate system of machinery was devised 



VAUX-LE-VICOMTE. 



