Learning from Le Nôtre

With my Gabriel Prize project, I spent quite a bit of time at Versailles and Vaux-le-Vicomte. The landscape architect Le Nôtre (and this year is the 400th anniversary of his birth, so exhibits and celebrations are happening at all the châteaux he worked on), the architect Le Vau, and the interior designer/painter Le Brun all collaborated with each other in the mid-1600's to create both châteaux and vast gardens... which had a big influence on centuries of design.

In particular, I spent quite a bit of time in the gardens.  They are HUGE, the scale at Versailles is truly overwhelming.  I think I walked the grounds for days, and I was always faced with a dilemma:  do I spend time walking around, seeing and learning things, or do I sit and spend the time sketching and seeing less?  I tried to strike a balance, but it was difficult.

This is one of the sketches from Versailles that was part of a sequence through the spaces of the main axis.  Tomorrow, I'll post the entire sequence.

Learning from Le Nôtre

I learned so very much from doing these drawings, it was if I was peering directly into the mind of Le Nôtre as I discovered his use of perspective in the design. I never would have understood these things by simply snapping a photo. This learning through hand drawing and direct observation of architecture is the very premise of the Gabriel Prize award!

For example, note that the water in the distance appears to be tilting up!
Of course, the giant canal can't tilt, it's the plane in front that in fact ramps down...and look at that clever Le Nôtre...he places a sculpture/fountain right at the vanishing point for that sloping plane.  In fact, the head of Apollo IS the vanishing point, and the shape of the sculpture is a low, flat triangle that virtually completes the apex of the triangular grass area.

The walkways feel busy and populated--and they are, with carved topiary and white marble statues that punctuate the walk and contribute to the sense of perspective.

Weekend at Vaux le Vicomte, looking for Vanishing Points

Once again, I was able to spend the weekend at the Château Vaux le Vicomte as part of my Gabriel Prize study.  A warm thanks to M. Alexandre De Vogüé for his support in allowing me to stay in an apartment on site--it was incredibly valuable to have that extra time in the late evening (and to enjoy the candle lit château and gardens, and fireworks!) and the early morning in the quiet gardens.

Saturday was roasting hot--I hope I lost a good 5 pounds in pure perspiration!  Sunday was thankfully much cooler, at least in the morning, and I was able to make the long walk to the opposite side of the canal to get this view looking back toward the château.  It is a study for the final view of the three I need to complete for the Gabriel Prize project.  I found a shady spot and did this sketch, but had to color it later due to time.

I like this view--even though it is asymmetrical (and these gardens are based on symmetry), it shows the relationship of the gardens to the chateau, including the hidden canal and grotto fountain you see in the foreground of this sketch. And, I think I'm finally, finally, finding a balance of pencil to paint that I like.

Vaux is an amazing place--calm, elegant, and full of Landscape Architect Le Nôtre's perspective and optical tricks, which predate Versailles.

Château Vaux le Vicomte, looking back toward the château
from across the hidden canal.  The fountains were running the previous
day, and the movement and sound of water really transform
these gardens. July 28.

Château Vaux-le-Vicomte, May 27, and a little sun

About 8 days ago, I headed south of Paris to stay with a dear friend of my dear friend Beanne.  Helen is the mayor of small village called Nanteau-sur-Essonne, and she lives in a beautiful home in the country.  Still plagued with jet-lag headaches, it was wonderful to stay here and finally adjust to the time change.

It's still raining and even pouring pretty much every day, and everyone says this is very unusual for May.  However, the day I drove to see the elegant château Vaux-le-Vicomte, there was a little sun.  I toured the building, then marched out to the Le Nôtre gardens, to begin the research for my Gabriel Prize project.

OK, this is going to be hard--the gardens are immense, and for the most part, pretty flat--which makes sketching the landscape extremely challenging.  This is my sketch of the château from pretty far into the gardens, but I'm interested in the approach to the building.  

Overworked the water...I'll blame it on the lingering jetlag!  At least the many french school kids who looked over my shoulder gave it a thumbs up!

Vaux-le-Vicomte from Le Nôtre's gardens. May27