Claude Mollet

Portrait of Mollet

Claude Mollet (* around 1563; † around 1649 in Paris ) was a French gardener, garden architect and garden manager. He introduced design elements of Italian garden art in France and is considered one of the first creators of richly ornamented garden parterres . He wrote an extensive text on garden design, which was also published as a book after his death. Claude Mollet is the son of Jacques Mollet († around 1608).

Life as a garden designer

Nothing is known about Claude Mollet's childhood. He learned the gardening trade from his father in Anet , Eure-et-Loir . After 1582 he was called to the service of King Henri IV, for whom he worked together with Étienne Du Pérac . After the Tuileries were destroyed by soldiers, he redesigned their garden parterres in 1593. His eldest son, Claude, worked with him on this. Their designs and creations ushered in a renewal of French garden art at the end of the Renaissance .

From 1595 he designed the gardens of the New Palace in Saint-Germain based on a design by Du Pérac. He also worked in the gardens of Fontainebleau Castle and Montceaux Castle .

Further merits

Claude Mollet was chief gardener and garden manager ( premier jardinier du Roi ) under three kings, Henry IV , Louis XIII and Louis XIV . He not only introduced the ideas of Italian garden art in France, but also prepared the French baroque garden with his symmetrical garden parterres oriented towards the palace as the center . The variety of ornaments he invented gave rise to a new, magnificent garden decoration that effectively enhanced the architecture of the palace buildings.

The introduction of numerous tree species and bushes from Italy are also due to him. He recognized the importance of the weather and linked meteorological findings with his instructions for gardening. He summarized his experiences and ideas in a comprehensive publication which was published as a book by his sons André and Noël after their father died. Many of Claude Mollet's findings are still valid today.

progeny

Claude Mollet had four sons: Claude (d. J.), André , Jacques (d. J.) and Noël. He trained everyone to be gardeners; Claude worked under Jacques Boyceau de la Barauderie , André was probably the most successful and worked for the Swedish court, among other things.

Publications

• Théâtre des Plans et Jardinages, contenant des secrets et inventions incognus à tous ceux qui jusqu'à présent […]. (With 22 plates). Paris 1652 (further edition 1660, 1676).

literature

• Michel Conan: Claude Mollet et sa famille . In: Michel Racine (ed.): Créateurs de jardins et de paysages en France de la Renaissance au XXIe siècle . Volume 1. Arles: Actes Sud 2001. ISBN 2-7427-3280-2 , pp. 20-31.
• Jean Chrétien Ferdinand Hoefer (Ed.): Nouvelle biography génerale depuis les temps les plus réculés jusqu'à nos jours . Volume 35. Paris 1861, column 907.