30 LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 



been absolute masters of the technique, or in other words, the 

 science of their particular art. There was never a truly fine 

 art developed without a complete mastery of its technique. 

 Many of the old masters spent years of patient study in the 

 preparation of their colors alone, and we know how success- 

 fully. 



Quite as certainly is it true that this technique must never 

 be allowed to master art. We know how thoroughly Michael 

 Angelo, for example, in the pursuit of perfection in his art 

 studied anatomy and how some of his later work was marred 

 by his evident desire to show therein his complete knowledge 

 of the most minute details of human anatomical conditions. 

 It is by a thorough knowledge of the principles and facts, in 

 other words the scientific data in each case, and yet by an 

 equally complete subordination of all this to the highest 

 aesthetic purposes or aims that perfection in this or any other 

 art is attained. 



Therefore do we study the past ; therefore do we require 

 the most careful preliminary investigations and the prepara- 

 tion of accurate scientifically prepared topographical plans 

 before we can do any of our work successfully; for fitness and 

 practicability are always to be considered first. It was be- 

 cause they never forgot these things and were trained to do 

 them that the masters in our profession in both Europe and 

 America had such success. Alphand and Andre in France, 

 and Major L'Enfant in the early days here in his preparation 

 of that masterpiece of landscape architecture, the plans for 

 the City of Washington, followed by that greater master of 

 the art, the elder Olmsted, all had scientific training of the 

 most rigid sort and never forgot its principles or their appli- 

 cation to the work before them. 



So must we follow in their footsteps, not as copyists or 

 imitators,but as thorough conscientious students of principles. 



How great shall be the benefit to mankind when in this 

 art which so vitally affects humanity, all such problems as 

 have been referred to and many others allied thereto, shall be 

 attacked and solved in the right spirit ; a true blending of art 

 and science. Neither first, but both keenly and sensitively 

 appreciated for their true worth, for as Mr. Olmsted has well 

 said: "The demands of beauty are in a large measure iden- 

 tical with efficiency and economy, and regard for beauty 

 neither follows after regard for the practical ends to be ob- 

 tained nor precedes it, but must inseparably accompany it." 



