Dome

View looking west towards the garden pavilion, from the Petit Trianon; It was the rearrangement of the gardens at the Petit Trianon that engaged Marie-Antoinette's full attention. She drew on the advice of both her architect Richard Mique and an enlightened amateur, the Comte de Caraman (1727-1807). These gardens were laid out in the anglo-chinois style: artificial hills, grottoes, rivers and lakes were created, with sinuous footpaths winding among them, revealing in their twists and turns the many charming buildings commissioned by the Queen. Near the Pavillon Français (built by Gabriel for Louis XV in 1750 and decorated by Jacques Verbeckt) was concealed the Théâtre de la Reine (1780, by Mique) where the Queen staged entertainments: the actors and spectators were members of the royal family or their close friends. A small Belvédère (built by Mique in 1778-1780, decorated by Jean-Jacques Lagrenée and Le Riche) overlooked the Grotto and the Petit Lac; and on an island in the 'river' stands the Temple de l'Amour, built in 1778 by Mique, with Joseph Deschamps (ca. 1743-1788). Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 2/10/2008)