A Dissertation on Oriental Gardening; by Sr: William Chambers, Knt: Comptroller General of his Majesty's Works.
G.B. Cipriani inv. F. Bartolozzi sculp.
[London] Printed by W. Griffin, Printer to the Royal Academy [also Davies, Dodsley, Wilson, Nicoll, Walter and Elmsley]. 1772.
Engraved illustrated titlepage to the first (4to) edition, with large margins, rare. 230 x 170mm, 9 x 6¾".
According to Colvin, the book was “primarily an attack on the bare style of landscape gardening associated with Capability Brown, and the oriental dress was merely a literary camouflage. To Chamber’s embarrassment his supposed championship of the Chinese garden as a model for imitation was taken seriously by the public, obliging him in 1773 to publish a second edition with an “Explanatory Discourse.’ Scottish architect Sir William Chambers (1723-1796) was responsible for many of Kew Gardens' temples, Carlton House, the north and south wings of Buckingham Palace, Richmond Palace, Sir Joshua Reynolds house, internal decorations of St James's Palace, Somerset House and many others. He was appointed tutor in architecture to the future George III. The classical design in an oval after Giovanni Battista Cipriani (1727 - 1785) shows a spirit with butterfly wings decorating a statue with flower garlands; on the right, a woman seated on a chair, and on the left, three naked putti, one drawing.
See BL L.32/58. Colvin p. 205. De Vesme 1693.
[Ref: 26329] £220.00
[London] Printed by W. Griffin, Printer to the Royal Academy [also Davies, Dodsley, Wilson, Nicoll, Walter and Elmsley]. 1772.
Engraved illustrated titlepage to the first (4to) edition, with large margins, rare. 230 x 170mm, 9 x 6¾".
According to Colvin, the book was “primarily an attack on the bare style of landscape gardening associated with Capability Brown, and the oriental dress was merely a literary camouflage. To Chamber’s embarrassment his supposed championship of the Chinese garden as a model for imitation was taken seriously by the public, obliging him in 1773 to publish a second edition with an “Explanatory Discourse.’ Scottish architect Sir William Chambers (1723-1796) was responsible for many of Kew Gardens' temples, Carlton House, the north and south wings of Buckingham Palace, Richmond Palace, Sir Joshua Reynolds house, internal decorations of St James's Palace, Somerset House and many others. He was appointed tutor in architecture to the future George III. The classical design in an oval after Giovanni Battista Cipriani (1727 - 1785) shows a spirit with butterfly wings decorating a statue with flower garlands; on the right, a woman seated on a chair, and on the left, three naked putti, one drawing.
See BL L.32/58. Colvin p. 205. De Vesme 1693.
[Ref: 26329] £220.00