Main entry:

Repton, Humphry, 1752-1818.

Title & Author:

Sketches and hints on landscape gardening : collected from designs and observations now in the possession of the different noblemen and gentlemen, for whose use they were originally made : the whole tending to establish fixed principles in the art of laying out ground / by H. Repton, esq.

Publication:

London : Printed by W. Bulmer and Co., Shakspeare Printing-Office, and sold by J. and J. Boydell, Shakspeare Gallery; and by G. Nicol, bookseller to His Majesty, Pall-Mall, [1794]

Description:

xvi, 83, [3] pages, 16 unnumbered leaves of plates (some folded) : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 28 x 38 cm

Notes:
Date from dedication.
"Repton set out his principles of landscape gardening in this book. In it he provided examples of how he had put these principles into practice in the work he had done for notable clients. Unlike [Lancelot 'Capability'] Brown, who favoured the use of plans, Repton favoured illustrating and describing his proposals in a series of 'little red books' which he would give to prospective clients."--Royal Collection Trust.
Humphry Repton was one of the last great landscape gardeners of the eighteenth century. Most of Repton's work was fine-tuning the work of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown, creating vistas which better represented ideas of the 'picturesque' landscape which were popular by the end of the century. "His success was based on the watercolors he produced for his clients. They include overlays (or, as he called them, "slides") that showed the potential transformation of their estates and gardens. The hand-colored aquatint illustrations in this book demonstrate his method of presentation to his clients."--University of Hawaii'i at Mānoa.
"Repton ... was the first to adopt the title 'landscape gardener'.... [Note 3]: See Sketches, etc. [page ] 13 [1794]."--Henrey, B. British botanical and horticultural literature before 1800, volume 2, page 547.
"Repton's Sketches and hints on landscape gardening is ... [an] oblong portfolio printed on paper made by James Whatman. It came from the press of W. Bulmer & Co. and was sold by the famous art publishers and dealers John and Josiah Boydell at the Shakespeare Gallery, and by George Nicol bookseller to George III.... The work consists mostly of 'detached fragments' taken from [Repton's] various "Red books', and is illustrated by sixteen plates etched in outline, with aquatint added, and afterwards carefully coloured by hand. Fourteen of these plates have overslips or 'slides' [or inserted parts] to show the scene as it was originally, and, when lifted [or moved], the same scene as it would be when Repton's suggested alterations had been made; [four plates are double]."--Henrey, B. British botanical and horticultural literature before 1800, volume 2, page 547.
Dedicated to the king, George III, by H. Repton, Hare-street, near Romford, Dec. 6, 1794.
Advertisement, explaining the nature of this work -- Catalogue of red books mentioned in this volume -- Introduction: Some general remarks on landscape gardening ; The requisites necessary to the art ; Remarks on the genius of the late Mr. [Lancelot "Capability"] Brown -- Chap. I. The characters and situations of several different places described ; Their influence on improvement ; How they may sometimes be totally changed -- Chap. II. Concerning buildings ; Some observations on Gothic and Grecian architecture -- Chap. III. Concerning the situation for an house ; Various considerations to influence its choice ; Prospect of little consequence, when avenues prevailed ; Digression concerning avenues ; Situation with respect to the shape of the ground on which an house may be built -- Chap. IV. Concerning water ; Some different places referred to ; General theory of perspective: explains the facility of disguising different levels ; Deceptions justified -- Chap. V. Concerning park scenery ; How it differs from forest scenery ; The use of cattle as a scale ; How to vary the sameness of green in natural landscape -- Chap. VI. Comparison of modern, or landscape gardening, and the ancient or geometric style ; Some remarks on symmetry ; Regularity ; Uniformity ; Correspondence And unity -- Chap. VII. Concerning approaches ; Answer to Mr. Knight's [Richard Payne Knight] misquotation of Tatton MS. ; The affinity betwixt painting and gardening examined ; Congruity recommended as the true foundation of good taste -- Appendix. Answer to Mr. [Uvedale] Price's book ; Correspondence on the subject of the new theory of picture gardening -- [Explanation of the plates].
English short title catalogue, T73696
Henrey, B. British botanical and horticultural literature before 1800, 1269
Digital facsimile available via Digital Library for the Decorative Arts and Material Culture, University of Wisconsin.

Resources:
Online version

Subject:

Landscape gardening Early works to 1800.
Landscape gardening England Early works to 1800.
Landscape architecture Early works to 1800.
Landscape architecture England Early works to 1800.
Country homes England.
Manors England.
Architecture du paysage Ouvrages avant 1800.
Jardins Architecture Ouvrages avant 1800.
Jardins Architecture Angleterre Ouvrages avant 1800.
Architecture du paysage Angleterre Ouvrages avant 1800.
Maisons de campagne Angleterre.
Manoirs Angleterre.
Landscape architecture
Landscape gardening

Form/genre:

aquatints (prints)
Early works
Aquatintes.

Added entries:

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, dedicatee.
Nicol, G. (George), 1740?-1828, bookseller.
W. Bulmer and Co., printers.
Shakspeare Press, printers.
John and Josiah Boydell (Firm), bookseller.
Thordarson Collection.

Holdings:

Location: Library cage m 29546
Call No.: 6522
Status: Available