Versailles

The sumptuous palace and gardens of Versailles were designed to represent both Louis XIV's celebration of himself and a perfectly balanced integration of art and nature. Millions of tourists have long admired the gardens for their beauty and enduring mystery. The allees and parterres resonate with memories of pomps and promenades, feasts and follies. The solar symbolism of Apollo reigns over both architecture and ornament at Versailles, yet French classicism dominates the gardens, imposing a strict geometrical order on the forest, shaping the flowerbeds and boxwood, and brightening the woodsy depths with fountains and statuary. Photographer Jacques Dubois presents Versailles through the cycle of the seasons and the shifting intensities of their light. His evocative images show great facades, stone goddesses, flowers and pools, masks, columns, and towering trees transformed by the ever-shifting forces of nature. Brief essays provide historical perspective and insight into the development of this enduring landmark. This gorgeous book will be treasured by visitors to Versailles as well as any garden lover.