The color photographs on this page were taken at the Desert de Retz between 1976 and 2012. The Desert de Retz is an outstanding example of a Jardin Anglo-chinois or folly garden and was created in the late 18th century by François Racine de Monville.First time visitor to this site? Start here to learn more about the Desert de Retz and Monsieur de Monville.
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All photography on this site copyright © Ronald W. Kenyon except where indicated. All rights reserved. Copying without the written authorization of the author represents infringement of copyright and is expressly forbidden. Links to this website are welcome.
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View a Flickr set of thirteen photographs of the Désert de Retz taken by Ronald W. Kenyon on July 5, 2012, depicting each of the extant structures.
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Monsieur de Monville's Column House as it appeared in 1905, when it was inhabited by the family of Frédéric Passy. Photo courtesy Le Désert de Retz Jardin des Lumières. Used with permission. |
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Photos taken from inside Monsieur de Monville's Column House, October 1997. © Susan Ferguson |
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Temple of Pan, Autumn 1976 |
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Temple of Pan, 1981 - Color shift using Kodak Ektachrome Infrared film |
Temple of Pan, November 1998. |
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Temple of Pan, June 2003 |
Tartar Tent (reconstruction), June 2003 |
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| Pyramid icehouse, 1981 | Pyramid icehouse, November 1998 |
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| Pyramid icehouse, side view, June 2003 | Pyramid icehouse, front view, June 2003 |
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| Church of Saint Jacques-Saint Christophe, November 1998 | Church of Saint Jacques-Saint Christophe, June 2003 |
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| Column House, November 1998 | Column House, June 2003 |
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| Open-Air Theater, June 2003 | Tunnel to Column House, June 2003 |
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| Temple of Repose, June 2003 | Little Altar (Petit Autel Presque Ruiné), June 2003 |
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Grotto Entrance (Forêt de Marly Entrance) to the Desert de Retz, November 1998 |
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| Temple of Repose, October 2008 © Gerard Peet | Open-Air Theater (Théâtre Découvert), October 2008 © Gerard Peet |
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| Column House, Little Altar, Roe Deer, October 2008 © Gerard Peet | Temple of Pan, October 2008 © Gerard Peet |
| Temple of Pan. | Pyramid Icehouse. |
| Gothic Church. | Temple of Repose. |
| Column House. | Open-air Theater. |
| Spiral Staircase, Column House. | Column House, from the Temple of Pan. |
The Courtauld Institute in London sponsors an online Art and Architecture website containing a generous selection of images from the extensive collection in the Conway Library. Included in the Conway collections is a page about the Desert de Retz. The series includes nine images of the Desert de Retz, including six monochrome photographs by A. Braham showing the Temple of Pan, the Pyramid and the Column House, and three architectural drawings of the Column House.
Don't miss these eight beautiful color photographs of the Desert de Retz and nine of the Parc de Jeurre by "ALEXIS-Cela-etant." Mémoire de fin d'étude ENSAD 1999.
View satellite photographs of Monsieur de Monville's Column House from Google Maps and Live Maps on the Virtual Globetrotting website.
These twelve monochrome photographs of the Désert de Retz in winter were taken by Hervé Jézéquel.
This Album Désert de Retz contains nine color photographs of the Gothic Church, the Pyramid and the Column House that were taken on November 21, 2005 by Wallace Morkitu.
Canadian Artist-Photographer Katy McCormick held an exposition in Toronto from May 4 to June 3, 2006, displaying her color photographs of the Desert de Retz under the title The World in a Folly Garden: Dancing ‘Round the Ruins. The photographs were taken at the Désert de Retz in August 2003 and July 2004. View eleven of Katy McCormick's photos of the Désert de Retz and more of her work on her Flickr page.
View eighteen excellent color photographs of the Desert de Retz taken between January 2007 and November 2008 by Paris-based teacher,"Akteon" and posted on his Flickr page. Subjects include the Column House, the Pyramid Icehouse and the Temple of Pan.
This set of twenty-two color photographs of the Désert de Retz were taken between August 1-18, 2009, by "François" and posted on his Flickr page. Noteworthy are two views of the ruined commons.
This set of twenty-six photographs of the Désert de Retz was taken by Christopher Amy during his visit to the Désert de Retz on April 30, 2011.
View a photograph of what the Pyramid Icehouse looked like before the restorations undertaken by Olivier Choppin de Janvry and Jean-Marc Heftler-Louiche in 1986: "An amorphous, green mound of vegetation..."
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