André Le Nôtre

Son and grandson of royal gardeners at the Tuileries, Le Nôtre studied perspective and painting with Simon Vouet. In 1656, his sweeping perspective designs at Nicolas Fouquet's Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte introduced vast canal basins, embroidered parterres, and optical illusions.

Appointed Principal Gardener to Louis XIV at Versailles in 1662, Le Nôtre spent four decades carving the Grand Canal, Apollo Fountain, and geometric bosquets out of swampy forests. His grand east-west axis created the illusion of infinite space, celebrating the Sun King's dominion over the elements.