Fouquet and Vaux-le-Vicomte III, a photo from Ile-de-France, North

Photographer's Note

I have added the first and the second Photographer’s Note for those who did not see the first two presentations.

(I) Nicolas Fouquet (1615-1680) conceived the château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, as Superintendent of Finances for Louis XIV (1638-1715) and patron of the arts. The construction of the edifice began in 1556 and was accomplished finally in 1661. Fouquet employed three artistic geniuses and 18,000 men to work in collaboration for the first time on the Baroque château and gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte situated 55 km SE of Paris in Melun.

(II) The father of Nicolas Fouquet was a state counsellor and was also a great collector of all sorts of antiques and curiosities from around the world. His library was one of the largest in the capital with some 15,000 volumes of books and, geographic and astronomical maps. Nicolas Fouquet spent a great deal of his time among the richness of his father’s collection at home. It is perhaps this environment, which affected the growth of his most extraordinary esthetical sensibility to become one of the most fascinating personalities of this era. The painting over the fireplace is a portrait of Fouquet himself. The interior of the château was decorated by painter and interior designer Charles Le Brun.

(III) These are the artists who shaped the architectural language of the era of the Sun King, Louis XIV (1638-1715). If it were not for Fouquet, with his most extraordinary taste in artistic talents, even the Château de Versailles would not have existed in the way it does today. It was the existence of Vaux-le-Vicomte with three artistic geniuses chosen by Fouquet, which inspired the young Louis to undertake the most ambitious architectural project of his period.

Louis Le Vau (architect), 1612 – 11 October 1670
Andre Le Notre (landscape architect) 12 March 1613 – 15 September 1700
Charles Le Brun (painter and interior designer) 24 February 1619 – 2 February 1690

brianmcc, lakshmip1949, yanastallerova, prasun984, danos, delpeoples, ikeharel, adores, kordinator, jhm, jlbrthnn, mauro61, Angshu, Cricri, chanteuse heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

Bartleby (13552) 2012-02-07 8:09

Hi Nobu,
another interesting composition with the choice of the statue in the foreground. At first, I thought you'd used a graduated filter because of the lack of brightness on the statue but after all it might just be that it's worn out? Another minor pick : The sharpening seems a little harsh or is it me?
Anyway, a nice catch!

Philippe

dale54 (17768) 2012-02-07 8:57

oh i like this,hi nobu.like your POV on this,great nice lite color and light! tfs! dr

serp2000 (47063) 2012-02-07 9:09

Salut, Nobu,

I like your idea to make this composition with good foreground and outstanding background. The note is very informative. I like history too. Good support of the TE conception : Learning about the world through photography. TFS!
Best wishes from cold Ural,
Serghei

mauro61 (53429) 2012-02-07 10:34

ciao Nobu,
ottima l'inquadratura con la statua in FG a dare profondità alla scena e la vista del castello sullo sfondo.
Sempre particolare la resa del colore,
buona serata
maurizio

brianmcc (6223) 2012-02-07 11:49

hi nobu,
your pictures are identifiable as yours even before your name is seen. this one also has your usual graceful qualities. lovely composition, great colours and rich textures.
regards,
brian

[2]

lakshmip1949 (19081) 2012-02-07 13:25

Hello Nobu,

A nice tribute to this great artist by erecting a statue. You have positioned the statue nicely in the foreground with a nice view of the chateau. The colors are very natural and very pleasant. I like the colors and grainy texture. I like the atmosphere with the dull sky. Your note is very interesting and informative.

With warm regards,

Lakshmi

fabianoleite (13575) 2012-02-07 17:07

The distance between the statue and the beuatiful palace on the background creates a great effect, and the brwonish colors look very good, too. It looks as if the 'angel' is facing the castle, very good work, very perspicacious. Congratulations!

prasun984 (5590) 2012-02-07 20:39

Hi Nobu,
wonderful shot with nice perspective...like the framing by the old age textured sculpture on the pillar in FG & the beautiful architecture in BG...nice cloudy weather...
very good light management in bad situation...nice color tones & sharpness...

Prasun

danos (110407) 2012-02-08 0:40

Hello Nobu,
nice synthesis with the statue on the foreground to be placed perfect in the frame,step aside to see the famous and unique château de Vaux-le-Vicomte,to outlined perfect on the moody and grey sky.I like the beautiful gardens between the two main elements of the scene,creating a great scenery.

Regards,Danos

delpeoples (60342) 2012-02-08 1:08

Salut caro Nobuccio-san

Fouquet? Was he not the baddie in the Three Musketeer novels? I vaguely remember his name, and must re-read them. A beautiful scene, playing expertly with depth of field, colours and sky. Excellent details and a most informative note.

Bonne amities et belle journee
Lisuzza

sevy (58) 2012-02-08 8:06

Hello,

Nice shot of this castle less known than Versailles but for me more interesting as its smaller size allows better to get a global view. Now, there is also possibility to do the visit at night with lights from candles.
Good idea the composition opposing the statue and the front of the castle. It gives depth and a color echo.
The sharpness appears a bit too high on the front of the castle. It is true it is not easy to manage from scanned film. From my side I manage it playing with the 'threshold' in unsharpmask tool, in order not to increase too much the effect on the argentic grain.

Yves.

[2]

adores (46979) 2012-02-09 16:00

Hi Nobu!
I like your composition and the atmosphere is very good with these dark clouds!Somehow, the place seems perfect with this weather!

kordinator (8738) 2012-02-10 2:06

Hello Nobu
Excellent composed image.
Lovely place you captured.
What a luxury.
Great choice of the statue in the foreground.
The note is very informative.
Wonderful texture and colors.
Best regards dear friend
Saša

sacimar (38173) 2012-02-10 3:12

Hello Nobu,

this is another interesting image, I like the combination of the statue and the building in the background, the result is good, well seen and presented,

Have a nice weekend!

Sergio

jhm (211738) 2012-02-10 3:43

Hello Nobu,

This is the second time that I bring a visit to these picture, the mistake of TE.
Lovely three part picture, castle in background the lovely garden in middle and the statue as real eye catcher on the foreground.
All details are very nice , excellent composition pleasant for look at.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice weekend,
John.

jlbrthnn (76043) 2012-02-10 4:00

Hi Nobu,
I visited your picture yesterday, unfortunately erased, like mine, as well as criticism. Like yesterday, I am appreciative of the composition, with the statue in the foreground, with that sharpness, add depth to the picture. Very good light and sharpness couleus. Bravo.
Have a nice day
Cordially
Joël

Yiannis84 (2824) 2012-02-10 7:31

Hi Nobu..

An effective photo with spectacular compistion and grafic detaials..i really like how you´re framed the scene! a really fascinating composition rich of atmosphere..very well done aand well seen!

Best regards..Yiannnis

Angshu (56760) 2012-02-11 7:13

Hello dear Nobu san
Beautifully composed. The vertical frame suits this fine with the graceful statue the main focal point to me, but also leads us thanks to the tilted head & line of sight to the chateau in the far BG, our eyes gliding over the delicate topiary. The dark cloud patches creates a fine backdrop for the state. A beautiful work indeed!

Are you sure you used no filter as we can see a dark patch in the lowest half of the picture just like we see in polarising filters?

Have a great Sunday Nobu-san
Best Regards
Angshuman

Cricri (176) 2012-02-11 12:18

Hi Nobu
Bon cadrage de la statue pour accentuer la profondeur, les détails du jardin, la vue parfaite du château, bon rendu des couleurs et des détails, très belle réalisation
Beau weekend
cricri

ikeharel (114535) 2012-02-19 1:40

Hi Nobu,
Good depth between the statue and the palace on distance, and the meticulous cared garden in between.
Also nice clearity and colors collected.
Regards
Ike

chanteuse (210) 2012-02-19 7:15

Beautiful composition and contrast of soft colors - that warm peach tone with the blues of sky and roof in the distance especially!
Fascinating information about Fouquet, it makes me want to read more about him. I had no idea he was the moving spirit behind the choice of those three Versailles architects...

[2]

sacavem (18620) 2012-02-26 13:08

Olá Nobu,

Nice picture, beautiful place. Just exactly what we may think of the French castles!You showed here the best of it! Nice composition. But unfortunately the photo has a lot of noise.

Cuprimentos,
Filipe

aliabazari (23205) 2012-02-29 20:00

Hi Nobu
This image has very good depth and perspective. Very beautiful view.
With respect