Designs Of Louis XIV And The Palace Of Versailles

Palace of Versailles is a symbol of the system of absolute monarchy during the reign of Louis XIV. It had raised France to supreme power and has made France a richest country in Europe. The palace and the gardens of Versailles are recorded into World Heritage by ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites) in 1979 and had become the ideal royal residence and government in Europe for over a century. The palace is significantly influenced by classical ancient Greek and Roman architectures and mythologies, particularly the surrounding gardens and decorative features including the sculptures and fountains. This essay aims to explore the garden designs and decorative features under the influences of Louis XIV, and how they are used to glorify the king and demonstrate the wealth and power of Versailles. Firstly, this paper will talk about the history of Louis XIV and how he has developed into an absolute monarch. Secondly, the essay will analyse how the site layout of Versailles and gardens are formed in relation to Louis as the Sun King. Lastly, within historical context, certain important features of the gardens will be discussed mainly on their purposes and how they are influenced by the mythology, politics and cultures.
Louis XIV (Figure 1), the absolute monarch of France from 1643 to 1715, was a model of other European monarchs. Louis was born on 5th of September 1638 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where located outside of Paris in north central France, and died in 1715 at an age of seventy-seven. After the death of his father Louis XIII in 1963, his mother Anne of Austria and the chief minister Cardinal Jules Mazarin were appointed regent while Louis XIV was young. For the throne, Louis was allowed to attend councils of st...

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... the architectural symmetry with the grand manner (Figure 6).
The final plan of the garden by Le Nôtre was decided in 1668. The major axis of the gardens was traced following the sun path from east to west (Figure 7). This is also associated with Louis, expressing how his power as the Sun king is over nature. The axis created a great perspective going from the Water Parterre and finish at the Grand Canal. Similarly, a secondary perspective going from north to south orientation, from the Neptune Fountain and finished at the Swiss Pool (Figure 7). Along these two axes, fourteen groves are planted with palisades of clipped bushes bounded around it. Both the site layout of Versailles and the gardens are associated with the sun in some aspects. Consistently, both of them have the same implication of the king’s power over nature and the absolute monarchy of Louis.