LECOQ, (Louis-Marie).   LE PAYSAGISTE.   Nouveau Traité D'Architecture De Parcs Et Jardins (École Moderne).     &nbspParis: Chez L'Auteur,   1860.          First edition. Lecoq was a student and disciple of Gabriel Thouin, whose PLANS RAISONNÉS DE TOUTES ESPECES DE JARDINS he cites in his introduction as the only prior authoritative French treatise on garden design. His insistence on nature as the sole model for garden design allowed no room for the style mixte and thus put him in conflict with the school of landscape gardeners, lead by Alphand, who were then remaking the Parisian park system. Lecoq is more than frank in his criticisms of the recent transformations made to the Bois de Boulogne, Tuileries, Jardin d'Acclimatation and Jardin de Luxembourg. For the latter of these he even prepared his own alternative plan, reproduced as plate 30, which shows the Luxembourg Gardens converted into a "jardin pittoresque" given over entirely to a sinuous stream and serpentine paths. Around these were to be planted 411 different varieties of plants, trees and shrubs, all carefully numbered and noted on the plan. The other plans that illustrate the work adapt the same style of layout and planting to a wide variety of sites and uses. Nearly all of Lecoq's gardens and parks also included picturesque and rustic garden structures. These fabriques are illustrated separately alongside each plan and include gazebos, chalets, belvederes, bridges, huts, etc. designed as chinoiserie, or in rustic, turkish or other exotic styles. Lecoq was also adamant in denying the ability of architects - or, more precisely, "architectes de bâtiments" - to design gardens or parcs. He styled himself, by contrast, as an "Architecte de Parcs et Jardins."   Folio (47.5 x 31 cm); (iv) + xii + 70 ff. + 32 lithographed plates.            Contemporary quarter morocco with paper-covered boards; boards worn at corners; text foxed, but plates clean. $2,400.00

CLICK To Return To Fair List     /    HOME