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Les jardins de Lunéville sous Stanislas Leszczynski : de folies en fabriques, un testament philosophique ? by Thierry FRANZ – Archives du Calvados
The gardens of Lunéville under Stanislas Leszczynski: follies as a philosophical testament?
When receiving the crown of the Duchies of Lorraine, the former King of Poland and father-in-law to Louis XV Stanislas Leszczynski (1677-1766) discovered Lunéville, the palace built by his predecessors. As soon as he moved there in 1737, he embellished the grounds in collaboration with his chief architect, Emmanuel Héré, via the construction of follies of Turkish, Chinese or pastoral inspiration, that were to mark a turning point in the history of gardens in Europe. Beyond shapes and forms, advances in research now offer us the possibility to read into this unique landscaping creation the signs of a philosophical testament, integrated within the landscape by a sovereign with an artist’s soul, a genuine prince of the Enlightenment.
Thierry Franz
In charge of the museum at the Château de Lunéville since September 2020, after working as a documentary researcher, Thierry Franz has organised several exhibitions focusing on the art and culture of the 17th-century royal court. Furthermore, he presented his thesis at the University of Lorraine, under the direction of Prof. Pierre Sesmat, on the subject of the Ducal residences in Lorraine under the reigns of Leopold and Francis III (1698-1737). Architecture, the arts and usage in the royal court.