(Andrew le), comptroller of the buildings of the French king, and designer of his gardens, distinguished himself by carrying the art of laying out gardens to great perfection. He was born at Paris in 1631; and was near 40 years of age when M. Fouquet superintendant of the finances gave him an an opportunity of becoming known by the fine gardens of Vaux-le-Vicomte. He was afterwards employed by Lewis XIV. at Versailles, Trianon, St Germain, &c. and discovered an admirable taste in all his works. In 1678 he went to Rome, with the permission of the French king, to improve his skill; but he found nothing there comparable to what he himself had done. Pope Innocent XI. resolved to see Le Nostre, and gave him a pretty long audience; at the conclusion of which Le Nostre said, "I have seen the two greatest men in the world; your holiness, and the king my master." There is a great difference, answered the pope: "The king is a great victorious prince; and I am a poor priest, the servant of the servants of God." Le Nostre, charmed with this answer, and forgetting who he was with, clapped the pope on the shoulder, saying, "Reverend father, you look extremely well, and will live to bury all the sacred college." The pope laughed at his prediction. Le Nostre, charmed more and more at the goodness of the sovereign pontiff, and the singular esteem he showed for the king, threw his arms about the pope's neck and kissed him. It was his custom to behave in the same manner to all who spoke in praise of Lewis XIV. and he even embraced the king himself whenever that prince returned from the country. Le Nostre had also a talent for painting. He preserved his good sense and vivacity of mind to the end of his life; and died at Paris in 1700, aged 87.