The king’s gardeners and botanists in the 17th and 18th centuries

From the reign of Louis XIV to that of Louis XVI, the gardeners and botanists who served the kings of France found themselves amidst a vast European impetus that offered them ever-increasing attention in their efforts to organise, domesticate and understand nature. Be they ornamental, fruit-vegetable or botanic, the royal gardens were sites propitious to creativity, experimentation and study. Over an insight into the key protagonists, who nourished themselves, collaborated and competed, we will study their different profiles and their major contributions.

A university graduate in history and history of art, Caroline Toublanc worked as a documentary research officer for 15 years, in particular with Jean-François Lagneau, Chief Architect for Historic Monuments, then at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. Now an independent lecturer, she has specialised in architecture, decorative art and gardens. She works essentially in Versailles.