Georgian and Regency style of gardeningThe English Landscape movement - 1750s to 1780sThis era saw the birth of the English Landscape movement. From about 1700 onwards, visiting gardens had become a national pastime, and the grand tour of Europe became a part of every gentleman's education. Formal gardens were on the way out and writers and landscapers advocated a return to nature. After seeing the ruins of ancient Rome and Greece, landowners came home to England hoping to create a classic wilderness in their country estates. Capability Brown came to prominence in the second half of the century. His design philosophy was that the landscape should run right up to the walls of the house, which would usually be set on high ground to enjoy the best view. A belt of trees, with views of the countryside beyond, surrounded the landscape and further clumps were planted at strategic points to create vistas and soften or emphasise the vast open spaces. Man-made lakes were linked by ornamental bridges or cascades, and temples backed by trees made focal points on lakeside banks or islands. He used beech, oak, Scots pine and sweet chestnut to create scenes which took in the changing seasons and the light. The Picturesque movement - 1780s to 1830The Picturesque movement towards the end of the 18th century was a reaction away from Brown's smooth, rolling, landscapes. People such as Richard Payne Knight and Uvedale Price looked for a wild and more rugged inspiration that would be suitable for dramatic, natural landscape painting. The word 'picturesque' was taken from pittoresco, the Italian for 'in the manner of a painting'. The picturesque taste declined in the 1830s. |
