bronze colorists--innumerable artisans
trained to meet the exacting tastes of that
Silver Age of Art--lent their skill to the
construction of fountains whose ingenuity and
variety have set a standard for all time for
the makers of kingly estates. A hundred
sculptors of highest reputation were engaged
to model groups, statues, busts and low
reliefs for the Versailles park, under the
supervision of Lebrun and Mignard.

Ladies of the Court sometimes claimed
the ear of the compliant André Le Nôtre
to suggest fancies that he graciously evolved
with greenery and marbles, with tinkling
streams and bright-winged birds.

The new Orangery, begun by Mansard
on plans submitted by Le Nôtre, consumed
nearly ten years in building, from 1678 to
1687. Twin stairways, one hundred and
three steps high, united the South Parterre
with the Parterre of the Orangery. The
shelter erected for the protection of
hundreds of orange trees, which often
blossomed and came to fruit, contained a main
gallery and two lateral galleries, lighted by
twelve large windows. In the center stood
a huge statue of Louis the Great. During
warm weather the tubs containing the