English Gardens of the 17th Century
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Home Family -> subcategory Gardening.
English Gardens of the 17th Century
Overview:
By the end of the 17th century, English gardens had devolved into repetitive imitations of French and Dutch styles, lacking originality and purpose.
Transformation in Gardening:
Towards the century’s close, English gardens were criticized for being mere copies of continental designs, leading to a call for change. What was once a formal style had become an overdone mannerism. The reaction was so intense that it led to the emergence of the Landscape Garden, essentially cultivated scenery rather than a traditional garden.
The English, perhaps the most guilty of overusing the old style, were the first to advocate for a change. The new school of thought pursued beauty in independence and natural forms. Leading this movement, Kent, as praised by Walpole, broke free from conventional designs, suggesting that gardens should escape rigid patterns and allow streams to wander naturally. His approach, as defined by Lord Kames, was like painting a canvas with carefully arranged natural and artificial elements.
Innovative Design:
Creating these gardens required more than just artistic skill; it demanded the alignment of design with the land’s natural features. Gone were the strict layouts of old; instead, landscapes featured smooth lawns, clusters of trees, winding paths, and irregular water formations. Nature’s dislike of straight lines meant that paths and streams took on "serpentine" shapes.
To mimic nature’s imperfection, Kent even included dead trees and stumps, aiming to create a wild, natural beauty. However, these attempts sometimes resulted in chaos and were often ridiculed, even by those who valued sentimentality.
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