OBSERVATIONS ON MODERN GARDENING

WHATELY, THOMAS

Verlag: T. Payne, London, 1770

Beschreibung

210 x 133mm. (8 1/4 x 5 1/4"). 4 p.l., 257, [1] pp. Contemporary quarter calf (tightened, and with joints replaced some time ago), marbled paper boards, raised bands, compartments with gilt floral tool, red morocco label with gilt lettering. Front pastedown with armorial bookplate of Porchester and three-character alphanumerical private library shelf location; title with the last name of the author written in ink in a contemporaneous hand. Henrey 1189. â Head and tail of spine with a little loss, the calf rather aged, boards with general overall soiling, edges and corners somewhat worn, but the restored binding quite sturdy; title slightly foxed, one opening with a few light stains, otherwise a surprisingly attractive copy internally--clean, fresh, and bright, with just the occasional negligible imperfection. According to Henrey, this is "the most comprehensive work on the theory of landscape design developed by the natural school before the time of Humphrey Repton." In his introduction, Whatley states that gardening is now brought to such perfection as to entitle it to "a place of considerable rank among the liberal arts," superior to landscape painting by being real. It has been "released now from the constraints of regularity, and enlarged beyond the purposes of domestic convenience," and "the most simple, the most noble scenes of nature are all within its province." The first part of the book discusses the components of a garden and their individual effects (ground, wood, water, rocks, and buildings); the second discusses the combining of parts into a unified scene that reflects the character of the garden. It was a popular book that went through several editions, was translated into French and German, and pirated. Among a number of persons giving the work high praise, Walpole described Whatley's book as "a system of rules [for garden design] pushed to a great degree of refinement, and collected from the best examples and practice . . . The work is very ingeniously and carefully executed, and in point of utility rather exceeds than omits any necessary directions." A person with a distinguished political career, Thomas Whatley (1726-72) was Secretary to the Treasury under George Grenville and was Lord North's Under-Secretary of State. Whately wielded considerable influence over matters of colonial legislation at a crucial time, and he was instrumental in producing the notorious 1764 American Revenue Act and the 1765 American Stamp Act. DNB tells us that his position on these issues was so intractable that "many Americans in London came to see him as their arch-foe." In spite of these sentiments, however, at least one prominent American was able to look past Whately's political stance where matters of gardening were concerned: Thomas Jefferson is known to have owned a copy of this work, and, according to DNB, "was impressed by it, and consulted it while laying out the grounds of Monticello.". Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers ST19567-023

Bibliografische Details

Titel: OBSERVATIONS ON MODERN GARDENING

Verlag: T. Payne, London

Erscheinungsdatum: 1770

Auflage: FIRST EDITION.