Book includes d'Argenville's descriptions of ways to integrate nature and ornament by ordered arrangments of flower beds, parterres, or tree groves with fountains, reflecting pools, and cascades based upon the aesthetic doctrines of André Le Nôtre, a leading designer.
The book includes
plate 2 [?] B:
Description: A parterre pattern, which looks like embroidery, accented by a single water jet in a circular pool.
Inscription: at top center "Parterre de Compartment", at bottom left corner: "Pl. 2 [?] B". Scale: at bottom center in toises.
plate L [?]:
Description: A fold-out page with five images. 1) left: plan of a garden with tree-lined walkways alongside a central avenue of fountains with a central fountain at the end; 2) top center: elevation and plan of a fountain with fifteen water jets and statues; 3) bottom left center: fountain with cetral water jet and pool on terrace with water flowing into lower basin ornamented with spouting dolphins and two water jets. Trees in backgrund; 4) bottom right center: fountain with nude female figure standing in basin. Water jets in basin cause water to cascade to pool below. Trees in background; 5) right: garden plan with inclining walkways flanking long, stepped pool of water with jets leading up to a pool with five water jets
Inscriptions: 1) above left image: fig. 1.er Cascade en rampe douce; 2)below left image: Pl. L [?] Page 206 et 207; 3) above top center image: Cascade en Bufet a la teste d'une piece d'eau; 4) inside top center image at top left: fig. 3e.; 5) inside top center image at top right: Elevation; 6) inside top center image at right center: Plan; 6) below bottom left center image: fig. 4e. Cascade sur une terasse; 7) below bottom right center image: Cascade dans une niche de charmille; 8) inside bottom right center image at left corner: fig. 5e.; 9) above right image: Cascade par chutes déscalier
Scales: at bottom right of left image: 1-12 Toises; at bottom right of right image: 1-12 Toises