Abandoned Faubourg Saint-Honoré Kitchen-Garden and Rusted Iron Gate
Behind one of the most elegant mansions on the Faubourg Saint-Honoré sits a large, once-productive kitchen-garden, marked by an ornate Louis XIII-era iron gate flanked by stone pilasters and geranium-filled vases. The gate has fallen into complete disuse, rusted, and boarded up to block access to the grounds.
Boarded-Up Garden Gate and Low-Rent Lease of Unproductive Ground
The mansion’s owners boarded the gate six feet high to prevent the market gardeners renting the adjacent unproductive land from glimpsing the aristocratic property. The land, originally set aside for a planned new street that never came to fruition, was purchased for a high sum and leased to market gardeners for just 500 francs per year, yielding almost no return on the investment.
Shaded Garden Corner with Rustic Stone Bench and Seating
A secluded corner of the overgrown garden, shaded by dense chestnut tree foliage and lush shrubs, holds a large stone bench and rustic seating. The spot is completely shielded from street and mansion noise, making it a favored private retreat for a resident of the nearby mansion.
Valentine Waits at the Gate for a Secret Rendezvous
On a warm spring evening, Valentine stands at the boarded-up gate peering through gaps in the planks, waiting for a secret meeting. She has left a book, parasol, and partially embroidered handkerchief on the nearby stone bench while she keeps watch.
Maximilian Arrives Disguised as a Working Gardener
A tall young man enters the adjacent unproductive ground via a small side gate, dressed in a common gardener’s gray blouse and velvet cap. Though his attire is plebeian, his carefully groomed dark hair, beard, and moustache mark him as upper-class; he approaches the gate cautiously to avoid being observed.
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