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path he repaired to London, and thence, aided hy some gentle- 

 men of his own country, proceeded vitli Mr. Talwin to Rome 

 •where he studied under the Chevalier Luti, and gained the sc^ 

 cond prize of the second class in the Academy. His first re- 

 sources failing, he found a patron in Sir W. Wentworth; and 

 finally in Lord Burlington, wilh this nobleman he returned to 

 England in 1719, and resided at his house. As a painter, 

 however, notwithstanding the influence of his patron, the esti- 

 malion in which he was held soon sunk to below mediocrity. 

 As an architect and designer of furniture he succeeded better 

 and was much employed. He designed the Temple of Venus 

 in Stowc Gardens. By the patronage of the Queen, and through 

 the interest of many noblemen lie was appointed INLaster Car- 

 penter, Architect, Keeper of the Pictures, and finally chief 

 Painter to the Crown, the emoluments of which produced about 

 ^600 per annum. From 1743 to 1748 he was troubled wit !i 

 various inflammatory attacks which terminated his life on the 

 12lh of April in the last named year. He was buried at the 

 Earl of Burlington's vault at Chiswick. It is said that Kent 

 frequently declared that he caught his taste in Gardening front 

 the perusal of Spencer's picturesque descriptions. Walpolc* 

 Mason the Poet, and G.Mason higldy panegyrize him, and 

 indeed by general consent he is estimated as the first general 

 practiser of Landscape Gardening. For the following outline 

 of his style of design I am entirely indebted to Mr. Walpole, 

 his contemporary. " Thegj'caJ^pnnci^les on which ho worked 

 were perspective, and light and shade. Groupes of trees broke 

 too uniform or too extensive a lawn; evergreens and woods 

 were opposed to the glare of the chanipain, and where the view 

 was less fortunate, or so much exposed as to be beheld at once, 

 he blotted out some parts by thick shades, to divide it into va- 

 riety, or to make the richest scene more enchanting by reserving 

 it to a farther advance of the spectator. Where ol)jects were 

 wanting he introduced temples, &c. but he especially excelled 

 in the management of Water. The gentle stream was tauilaft 



