Les jardins du Grand Trianon de Michel Le Bouteux à Richard Mique

A reassessment of the gardens at the Grand Trianon, Versailles, challenges the traditional attribution to André Le Nôtre, revealing that their structure and botanical richness were primarily shaped by Michel Le Bouteux (1670–1682). While Le Nôtre contributed later (1687–1693) with limited modifications, Jules Hardouin-Mansart's interventions (post-1693) introduced significant elements like geometrically pruned trees and sculptural groups. The most transformative redesign, however, occurred under Richard Mique in 1776, which established the garden’s quincuncial layout, balanced axes, and renewed plantings with new species—resulting in the configuration admired today. This study leverages neglected documents to correct historical misattributions and highlight Mique's pivotal role.

Moulin, J. (2017). Les jardins du Grand Trianon de Michel Le Bouteux à Richard Mique. Bulletin Monumental, 175(2), 129–154. https://doi.org/10.3406/bulmo.2017.13026