France: 16th & 17th Centuries

Lecture 16: France: 16th & 17th Centuries

Instructor Details

  • Course: LAND 2510 History of the Built Environment I – Landscape Architecture

  • Instructor: Matthew Riggs

  • Institution: College of Environment & Design, The University of Georgia

  • Author: Jingxian Li

  • Year: 2016

Environment

Geographic Overview

  • The Paris basin consists of the Seine and Loire rivers, forming a natural geographic unit.

  • The central focus on Paris enabled the centralization underlying much of French life and history.

  • French classical landscapes were predominantly centered around this geographic unit.

    • The Loire River, having its capitalize at Orleans, acted as a romantic counterbalance to the Seine.

Scenery Description

  • The landscape is characterized by:

    • Peaceful, undulating cornlands interspersed with cathedral and market towns.

    • Chateaux, often surrounded by canalized moats.

  • Near Paris:

    • Presence of hardwood forests with straight rides suited for hunting.

  • Climate details:

    • Atlantic-European, with an average rainfall of twenty-four inches.

    • Summers conducive for vine growing.

Urban Development

  • Paris grew into a densely populated and thriving city during the latter half of the 16th century.

  • The royal residence shifted from Ile de France to the Louvre (originally around 1400) and the Tuileries.

  • The monarchy consistently gravitated westward for residence.

  • The Touraine province is noted as the origin of many splendid water concepts in 17th century France.

Social History

Political Developments

  • 1453: English forces were nearly expelled from France; this facilitated the emergence of a unified French nation.

  • Charles VIII, during his invasion of Italy in 1495, marked the introduction of Renaissance waves into France.

  • Francis I (1515 – 1547): Achieved parity with Spain, ruling under the principle of ‘au bon plaisir’ (to the good pleasure).

Louis XIV's Influence

  • Louis XIV ruled from 1661 to 1715 with a focus on:

    • Expanding French influence globally, establishing France as a dominant European power.

    • Promoting the arts and sciences domestically.

    • Creating a lavish court at Versailles, characterized by a civilization of pleasure unmatched in history.

  • The funding for these initiatives came from taxation, excluding the nobility and Church, leading to societal tensions culminating in the French Revolution of 1789.

Philosophy

Monarchical Civilization

  • The civilization under the French monarchy was one of materialism, in contrast to Italy’s focus on transcendent themes through art.

  • French arts expressed themes of pleasure relevant to the Sun King’s court rather than deeper philosophical inquiries.

Public Acceptance

  • The Catholic majority supported the monarchy, with the Papacy often aligning with French political interests.

  • Niccolò Machiavelli’s ideas influenced leaders, especially Richelieu, promoting absolute power where the ends justify the means.

Literary Contributions

  • Writers like Molière (1622 – 1673) flourished as long as they conformed to state ideals.

  • Beneath apparent uniformity, Jansenism sparked moral concerns, influenced by thinkers such as Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662), a natural philosopher and mathematician.

  • René Descartes (1596 – 1650) emerged as a pivotal philosopher of the era, though he withdrew to the more liberal Holland.

Expression in Architecture and Landscape

Shift in Aesthetic Focus

  • The energy predominantly shifted towards creating new country estates instead of religious structures.

  • The 16th century heralded the development of romanticized water landscapes, particularly in the Loire Valley, spanning over a hundred miles.

  • Following this period, classicism brought more structured and symmetrical garden layouts.

French Landscape Design: Medievalism to Classicism

Influence of Italian Principles

  • Despite the dominance of Italian styles, innovation in spatial design was dormant until the emergence of Vaux-le-Vicomte and André Le Nôtre’s principles (1613 – 1700).

André Le Nôtre’s Contributions

  • Le Nôtre revolutionized French garden design by:

    • Transitioning from compartmentalized landscapes to fully organized spaces.

    • Envisioning grand landscapes expressing humanity's dignity and aesthetic pleasure.

    • Creating spectacles, such as those found in the gardens of Versailles, showcasing national power.

Principles of Garden Composition (Le Nôtre)

  1. Gardens transition from merely extensions of homes to integral parts of grand land compositions.

  2. Solid geometrical formations based on axial relations suited to undulating terrain.

  3. Carving out shapes reminiscent of ordered woodlands, differentiated by charmilles (clipped hedges).

  4. Achieving unity with the surrounding environment through water reflections and outward avenues.

  5. Scale magnitudes receding from the house, emphasizing expanse.

  6. Integrating artistic sculptures and fountains that enhance spatial rhythm.

  7. Employing optics to guide the viewer’s focus while restricting errant gazes.

  8. Crafting the whole design visible at a glance, with intricate surprises nestled within intimate woodlands.

  9. Ensuring the facilitation of movement within the space, enhancing the dignity of guests with larger-than-life elements.

Vaux-le-Vicomte

  • Vaux-le-Vicomte (1656-1661): This estate represented Le Nôtre's first major project.

    • Characterized by a single woodland compartment with undulating terrain, showcasing a grand visual experience instantly.

    • Introduced principles of prioritizing landscape architecture over static architectural forms, emphasizing outward expansion.

    • Surprise elements like sunk canals were masterfully concealed at the initial viewpoint, enhancing discovery.

Chantilly and Versailles

  • At Chantilly, Le Nôtre enhanced principal designs, establishing a new dominant axis. The arrangement prominently showcased water’s role in garden pageantry.

  • Versailles (1662-1709): The epitome of absolute monarchy construction, showcasing grandeur with techniques previously utilized at Vaux-le-Vicomte. The gardens of Versailles illustrate both art and power, blending nature and design seamlessly.

Renaissance vs Baroque Period

Renaissance Characteristics

  • Transition period marking the move from Middle Ages to modernity, spanning the 15th and 16th centuries.

  • Art is noted for naturalistic human representation, landscape detailing, and techniques such as foreshortening and chiaroscuro.

  • Sculpture utilized naturalism and religious practices; architecture emphasized symmetry and harmony.

Baroque Characteristics

  • Commencing around 1600 in Rome, Baroque art emphasizes dramatic contrasts, intricate detail, and vibrant colors.

  • Noteworthy aspects include dynamic figures, movement, and sculptural viewpoints.

  • Architecture showcases grand volumes, domes, and bold spatial expressions.

Significant Chateaux and Gardens in France

Chateau Gaillard (ca. 1496)

  • Recognized for Renaissance villa design with central axis and introduction of orange trees.

Chateau de Villandry (ca. 1532-1536)

  • An exemplary Early Renaissance chateau and garden, reflecting humanist ideals of the time.

Chateau de Chambord (ca. 1519-1547)

  • Representing High Renaissance design principles; lawns include distinctive features defining French landscape architecture.

Chateau d’Anet (ca. 1547-1552)

  • Exhibited High Renaissance ideals through its design, linking the historical figure Diane de Poitiers to Roman mythology.

Tuileries Palace and Gardens (ca. 1564-1610)

  • Designed for Catherine de Medici, embodies significant Renaissance principles with expansive enjoyment factor surrounding court entertainments.

Exploration of Historic Landscapes

  • Suggested virtual exploration of prominent sites:

    • Louvre Museum (Paris, France)

    • Jardins des Tuileries (Paris, France)

    • Chateau Royal d’Amboise (Amboise, France)

    • Chateau Royal de Blois (Blois, France)

    • Chateau de Chenonceau (Chenonceaux, France)

    • Luxembourg Gardens (Paris, France)

    • Commune de Richelieu (Richelieu, France)

    • Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte (Maincy, France)

    • Chateau de Chantilly (Chantilly, France)

    • Palace of Versailles (Versailles, France)