Elegant figures and boats in front of the the Chateau d’Eau in the park of chateau de Villacerf Oil on canvas H: 85 x W: 130 cm Provenance: Amédée Mégret de Devise (1800-1854), chateau de Salency (bombed in 1918), then by descent Exhibition: - Paris, Galerie Charpentier, Jardin de France, Summer 1963 - Paris, Galerie Charpentier, Les Jardins et les Fleurs de Breughel à Bonnard, 1965 This very rare depiction of a 17th century parc with its animated basin and water castle has been recently identified as the chateau d’eau in the parc of Villacerf (Champagne). Built by Louis le Vau in 1654, two years before Vaux-le-Vicomte, for Louis Hesselin maitre d’hotel ordinaire du roi, Villacerf (previously called Saint Sepulchre) was acquired around 1667 by Edouard Colbert, marquis de Villacerf, who commissioned Pierre Cottard to remodel the castle and its gardens. The elaborated water castle was build in the shape of a triumphal arch with a central portico decorated with elegant sculptures and fountains. Situated at the end of the longest basin of the parc, it concealed a large wheel and a pump used to supply water to all the fountains of the parc. The motto of Louis Hesselin, "Superest dum vita movetur" is placed above the central part and is flanked by sculpted coat-of-arms of Colbert. It was engraved by Lebouteux fils. The castle and parc were destroyed at the revolution.