In the mid-seventeenth century, Nicolas Fouquet aspired to build himself the finest house in the world. An ambitious young Frenchman, Fouquet rose to prominence after proving his loyalty to King Louis XIV during the turmoil of the Fronde. Alas, his fidelity was not long reciprocated and, in 1661, the king had the superintendent of finances arrested and ultimately imprisoned based on the slanderous scheming of a rival.
Unfortunately, the drama of Fouquet’s rise and fall often overshadows the greatness of his vision and grace. A passionate patron of the arts, he left behind a true masterpiece in the form of Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in Maincy, near Melun.
Fouquet enlisted the very best to create his perfect residence: André Le Nôtre, the gifted landscape designer whose work represents the height of formal French garden style; Louis Le Vau, the renowned Baroque architect; and Charles Le Brun, the genius artist and interior decorator responsible for a range of French masterpieces.
Today, these legendary artists’ creation is preserved and tended by the de Vogüé family. Since 1875, when Alfred Sommier fell in love with Vaux and dedicated his life to resuscitating it, this household has remained faithful stewards of its legacy for five generations.
Text Leslie Bennett Smith
Photography Stephanie Welbourne Steele
Styling Melissa Sturdivant Smith
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