VERSAILLES. 



247 



the- whole, closely surrounded as it is by a dense grove^ is 

 very fine. 



To the right of the chateau^ the most interesting spot;, is 

 the Bosquet des Bains d'ApoUon. This is simply a large 

 and picturesque surface of rock^, well-backed by trees and 

 with a pillared grotto or recess about its centre, containing 

 the group in white marble shown in the accompanying 

 plate. To the right and left of this magnificent group, and 

 also exposed on the rocky face, are two groups in marble, 

 representing the horses of the sun watered by tritons. 

 These three groups form the most imposing ensemble of 

 sculpture at Versailles. "When the waters play, a cascade 

 tumbles from the rocks into the piece of water at their 

 base. The banks in front of them are wildly clothed with 

 trailing shrubs, the Polypody densely mantles the rocks; 

 the vegetation around is tastefully arranged to suit the 

 scene, which is on the whole the most striking and satis- 

 factory in the gardens at Versailles. 



On the fountains and waterworks of Versailles skill and 

 gold were lavished by their creators. The Bassin de Nep- 

 tune is the most important. As the waters only play 

 on special occasions, and as they cost about 10,000 francs 

 every time they do play, one is justified in considering the 

 basins in their usually dormant aspect. Nothing can look 

 more wretched than any garden exhibiting large fountain 

 basins. Early in the morning of the 24th cf September, 1868, 

 I strolled round this fountain basin, endeavouring to dis- 

 cover some beauty in it. Had it not been for the fruits 

 falling abundantly from the Horse-chestnut groves close at 

 hand and a poor woman gathering them for fuel, I should 

 have imagined myself in a dead world. The formality of 

 the surroundings, the mouldering, faded margins and inde- 

 scribable emptiness and ugliness of the scene, seemed only 

 worthy of some sphere of geometrical craters and pools. 



The figure showing this basin in full play obviates any 

 necessity of describing it. The upper margin of the basin has 

 twenty-two large vases in lead, ornamented with bas-reliefs, 

 while on the face of the wall are three immense groups in 

 the same material — the central one representing Neptune and 



