. Fabulous heroes
and divinities impart their attributes to him or mingle with his
courtiers. In honor of him, Neptune sheds broadcast the waters that
cross in air in sparkling arches. Apollo, his favorite symbol,
presides over this enchanted world as the god of light, the inspirer of
the muses; the sun of the god seems to pale before that of the great
King. Nature and art combine to celebrate the glory of the sovereign
by a perpetual hosannah. All that generations of kings have amassed in
pictures, statues and precious movables is distributed as mere
furniture in the glittering apartments of the chateau. The
intoxicating perfumes of luxury and power throw one into a sort of
ecstasy that makes comprehensible the exaltation of this monarch,
enthusiastic over himself, who, in chanting the hymns composed in his
praise, shed tears of admiration."

CHAPTER IV

THE GARDENS, THE FOUNTAINS AND THE GRAND TRIANON

The first gardens of Versailles--those
that gave a modest setting to the villa
constructed for Louis XIII, comprised a few
parterres of flowers and shrubs bounded by
well trimmed box hedges, and two groves
planted on each side of the _Allee Royale_.
To Jacques Boyceau is accredited the first
plan of the gardens of Versailles, but Andre
Le Notre greatly amplified and improved
the original scheme. Le Notre's
achievements at Versailles gave him rank as the
most distinguished landscape gardener of
his time, and of all time.

Besides the luxurious and symmetrical
gardens at Versailles, he originated the
designs of those at the royal houses at Trianon,
Saint-Cloud, Merly, Clagny, Chantilly and
the Tuileries. The Parterre of the Tiber
at Fontainebleau also added to his high
reputation. For a long period the style of
garden perfected by Le Notre was taken as a
model and imitated throughout Europe. In
1678 he went to Italy on a mission for the
King, who desired him to make researches
there. While at Rome the eminent artist
from France was commissioned to plan the
gardens of the Quirinal, the Vatican and
the villas Ludovisi and Albani. The
Elector of Brandenburg summoned him to
design the garden at Oranienburg; Kensington
Park in London is still another example of
Le Notre's skill. In his genius were
reflected the qualities that distinguished the
art of his century: regularity of design,
harmony, dignity and richness of materials.
Louis XIV had an enduring admiration for
the work and characte