Picturesque_Garden_in_England_and_Europe

KEY CONCEPTS & TERMS

• Age of Enlightenment: Intellectual and philosophical movement in Europe emphasizing reason and individualism.

• Jardin pittoresque: A picturesque garden emphasizing natural beauty.

• American Revolution (1775-1783): Conflict with Britain that influenced political philosophy.

• Le désert (wilderness): Concept of wildness as part of nature's appeal in aesthetics.

• Background / Distance / Prospect: Elements contributing to the overall composition and viewing experience in garden design.

• Line of Beauty: Principle by Hogarth regarding graceful curves in nature and art.

• Beauty / Beautiful: Key concepts related to aesthetics in landscape design.

• Metaphor: Language describing landscapes in an artistic way.

• Chinese Pavilion / Pagoda / Bridge: Elements in gardens influenced by Chinese architecture (chinoiserie).

• Middle-ground / Mid-distance: Areas in landscape design that enhance visual depth.

• Chinoiserie: European artistic style influenced by Chinese designs.

• Nature’s Gentleman: Concept of nature in its ideal form.

• Claude Glass: Reflective black glass used for viewing landscapes.

• Noble Savage / Primitivism: Ideas linked to the idealization of pre-civilization.

• Composition (as aspect of picturesque scenery): Arranging elements in a visually appealing manner.

• Picturesque / Picturesque Beauty: Aesthetic ideal that values natural beauty in an artfully arranged landscape.

• Consequence (as aspect of picturesque scenery): Emotional and cognitive impact of a landscape design.

• Picturesque Tourism / Travel: The trend of visiting beautiful landscapes for pleasure.

• Fabrique (folly): Constructed features in gardens meant to serve decorative purposes.

• Poetry (scientific, ornamental farm): Relationship between literary and visual art in describing nature.

• Political Philosophy: Influences on garden design philosophies during the Enlightenment.

• Folly / Eye-Catcher: Decorative features intended to intrigue viewers.

• Red Books: Guidebooks or manuals related to picturesque landscapes.

• Foreground: The closest field of view in a landscape painting or garden.

• Romanticism / Romantic Movement: Artistic and intellectual movement focusing on emotion and nature.

• French Revolution (1789-1799): Major influence on art and philosophy.

• Ruin: Romantic idealization of decay.

• Genius Loci: The spirit or essence of a place.

• Scenographic Composition: Artistic arrangement for visual storytelling.

• Gothic Tower / Gothic Temple: Architectural features that evoke a sense of the medieval era.

• Station / Viewing Station: Design elements placed for optimal viewing of picturesque scenes.

• Grotto: Architectural feature mimicking natural caves, often used in landscaping.

• State of Nature: Philosophical idea about the inherent condition of humans in nature.

• Hameau (hamlet): Rustic village within a garden, adding to its picturesque quality.

• Sublime: Aesthetic concept relating to awe-inspiring beauty.

• Hermitage / Rustic Hut: Structures designed for solitude and reflection within a garden.

• Texture (as aspect of picturesque scenery): Element of design referring to the tactile qualities that add interest to landscapes.

• Imagination / Reverie: The emotional response elicited by the beauty of the landscape.

• Tourism: The act of traveling to explore picturesque landscapes.

• Industrial Revolution: Period of rapid industrial growth influencing concepts of nature and beauty in landscape.

• Turkish Tent: Exotic structures incorporated in garden design.

• Jardin à l’Anglaise: English garden style emphasizing natural beauty over formal structure.

• Watercolor Painting: Medium used for depicting landscapes, influencing perception of color and light in gardens.

• Jardin Anglo-Chinois: Gardens combining English and Chinese styles.

• Wilderness: Untamed natural areas featured in picturesque landscapes.

• Jardin Pavasager: A specific style of garden influenced by picturesque ideals.

PERSONS (by birth date)

• Salvatore Rosa (1615 – 1673): Italian baroque painter known for rugged landscapes inspiring picturesque theory.

• William Hogarth (1697 – 1764): Artist and aesthetic theorist defining principles of beauty in art.

• Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 – 1778): Philosopher influencing Enlightenment thought and gardening aesthetics.

• Louis Carrogis de Carmontelle (1717 – 1806): French landscape gardener associated with picturesque gardens.

• Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown (1716 – 1783): Leading landscape gardener in England, known for picturesque designs.

• Immanuel Kant (1724 – 1804): Philosopher discussing aesthetics and human perception.

• William Gilpin (1724 – 1804): Artist and author, significant in articulating picturesque scenery.

• Sir William Chambers (1728 – 1798): Architect and gardener influential in landscape garden design.

• Edmund Burke (1729 – 1797): Statesman and writer on aesthetics and beauty.

• Sir Uvedale Price (1747 – 1829): Known for his writings on picturesque theory.

• Sir Richard Payne Knight (1751 – 1820): Scholar connecting picturesque theory to gardening.

• Humphry Repton (1752-1818): Major landscape designer in England during the late 18th century.

• William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850): Poet contributing to the popularity of picturesque aesthetics.

• Dorothy Wordsworth (1771-1855): Writer who promoted scenery tourism through travel accounts.

• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 – 1832): Influential writer and philosopher, impacting literary and gardening aesthetics.

TEXTS (by publication date)

• William Hogarth, The Analysis of Beauty (1753): Explores principles of beauty.

• Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful (1757): Key text on aesthetics.

• William Chambers, Designs of Chinese Buildings (1757): Highlights influence of Chinese styles.

• Immanuel Kant, Observations on the Feeling of the Beautiful and Sublime (1764): Addresses human perception of aesthetics.

• William Gilpin, Essays on Prints (1768): Definition of "picturesque" introduced.

• Thomas Whately, Observations on Modern Gardening (1770): Discusses modern gardening approaches.

• William Chambers, A Dissertation on Oriental Gardening (1772): Explores Eastern influences in gardening.

• Claude-Henri Watelet, Essai sur les Jardins (1774): Discusses principles of garden design.

• René Louis de Girardin, De la Composition de Paysages (1777): Focuses on principles in landscape composition.

• Thomas West, A Guide to the Lakes (1778): Travelogue celebrating picturesque scenery.

• Horace Walpole, The History of the Modern Taste in Gardening (1780): Tracing evolution of taste in gardening.

• William Gilpin, Three Essays (1794): Further explorations of picturesque beauty.

• Sir Richard Payne Knight, The Landscape: A Didactic Poem (1794): A poetic exploration of landscape aesthetics.

• Sir Uvedale Price, Essay on the Picturesque (1794): Contrast between picturesque and sublime.

• Humphry Repton, Sketches and Hints on Landscape Gardening (1795): Practical advice on garden design.

• Sir Richard Payne Knight, An Analytical Inquiry into the Principles of Taste (1805): Investigation of principles underlying taste in art.

• Humphry Repton, Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening (1816): Notes on design practice and theory.

PROJECTS AND PLACES (by date)

• Lake District (17th-19th centuries): Tourist destination known for its picturesque scenery.

• Croome Court (1751): Early commission by Capability Brown showcasing his style.

• Harewood (1751-1771): Site of a Capability Brown-designed garden.

• Ragley Hall (ca. 1680): Baroque gardens redesigned by Brown.

• Blenheim (1764): Redesign by Brown transforming the landscape.

• Parc Ermenonville (1763-1776): French picturesque garden influenced by Rousseau.

• Parc Monceau (1773-1778): Major example of French picturesque style.

• Désert de Retz (1774-1785): Garden exemplifying French picturesque aesthetics.

• Hameau de le Château de Chantilly (1774): Rustic village enhancing the picturesque appeal.

• Petit Trianon (1774): Redesigned in picturesque style for Marie-Antoinette.

• Hameau de la Reine de Versailles (1783-1789): Rustic complex part of Marie-Antoinette's garden.

• Wörlitz Garden (1763-1773): Large picturesque park established by Duke Leopold III.

• Park Pückler-Muskau (1815): Influential landscape park affecting future designs in Europe and America.

SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING

• John Dixon Hunt, Gardens and the Picturesque (1992): Studies on landscape architecture history.

• John Dixon Hunt, The Figure in the Landscape (1989): Examines poetry, painting, and gardening.

• Hunt and Willis, The Genius of the Place (1988): Exploration of English landscape gardens.

• Nikolaus Pevsner, The Picturesque Garden (1974): Investigates gardens' influence beyond the British Isles.

• Charles Quest-Ritson, The English Garden (2004): Social history of English gardens.

• Simon Schama, Landscape and Memory (1995): Reflection on the relationship between landscape and culture.

• David C. Stuart, Georgian Gardens (1979): Overview of gardens from the Georgian era.

• David Watkins, The English Vision (1982): A look at picturesque in architecture and landscape.

• Dora Wiebenson, The Picturesque Garden in France (1978): Study on French picturesque gardens.