LE NOTRE AND VERSAILLES 



93 



into a palace, the splendours of which can only be gathered from the engrav- 

 ings of Perelle. The chateau is now a Museum, the gigantic 'parterre d^eau, 

 although shorn of its surrounding flower beds and therefore not so beautiful 

 as formerly, being still impressive by its size. Would it were possible to 

 restore in some measure the beautiful designs of Le Notre for the gardens ! 

 Le Notre was fortunate in his patron, and Louis XIV, although he 

 constantly interfered with the works of other artists whom he employed, 

 was sufficiently astute to realize the talent of Le Notre. He afforded him 

 the noblest opportunities, and heaped benefits and honours upon him. He 



<pC es CS ercen HOC dxi/aj^din dc. S itui(L- 



TREILLAGE BERCEAUX AT CHANTILLY. 



employed him for a period of forty years, and when at the age of eighty-six 

 Le Notre was obliged to resign, he was frequently visited by the King. 

 In addition to the fine portrait of him at Versailles, there is a bust by 

 Coysevox and statues at the Louvre and at Chantilly. When Le Notre 

 was sixty-two, Louis XIV insisted on making him a chevalier of the Order of 

 St. Michael, and suggested that he should adopt a coat-of-arms, which sugges- 

 tion he laughingly declined, saying that he had one ready made — three snails 

 surrounding a spade and surmounted by a cabbage leaf. Le Notre died 

 in 1700 and was buried in the church of St. Roch. 



