Product Description

'Genius', 'master', 'pre-eminent' - these are the terms used by experts to describes Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, the eighteenth century landscape designer who wrought a garden revolution in England. A nation-wide reaction to the existing geometric gardens of the French school brought various experiments in change. On an enormous scsale Brown transformed the English countryside with the gentle serenity of his 'picturesque landscapes' and persuaded much of Europe, also, to imitate his parklands. It is said that the landscape garden has proved a unique English art form and Lancelot Brown an extraordinary exponent. The tale of the garen boy who rose to fame, riches and friendship of the king is remarkable in itself. And, in this conservation-conscious age, his emphasis on 'natural' gardens, his tree-planting and 'improvement' of well over a hundred properties must surely strike a sympathetic cord.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #391287 in Books
• Published on: 1974-05-30
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

About the Author
Joan Clifford is a full-time author with varied interests, specialising as a biographer. She is a past Chairman of the Society of Women Writers and Journalists and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Customer Reviews

A handy overview of this great landscaper's lifetimes work
A good overview of the background and progress and scale of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown's working life.
In chronological order and with a small but informative reference bibliography at the end, the book details the great landscape gardener's rise from competent garden boy, understudy of William Kent and then patronage and often friendship with the vast country-seat holders of England - including a royal position and house at Hampton Court and finally a country seat of his own whilst tirelessly travelling, surveying and laying out various comissions of grand degree sometimes over several years, right up until his death.
The book also captures some of the political influences and changing styles during his lifetime, although his own popularity was no passing fad.
A man of his moment, his style symbiotic with artistic and aristocratic influence, the book goes on to mention his subtle legacy of large scale landscaping if not completely originally his own, then something he sympathetically grasped.
The book should be useful to those intereted in social history, gardening, the english countryside, conservation and where art and architecture combine...