NOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS 



N the pictorial treatment of garden subjects it 

 is important that the particular charm and 

 character which they possess should be sym- 

 pathetically suggested. To make a garden 

 picture a mere piece of obvious realism, a 

 simple representation of pretty details, is by 

 no means enough ; each place has an individ- 

 uality of its ow^n and a distinctive atmosphere 

 which needs to be studied and expressed. 

 The ordinary topographical record, which states facts without sensi- 

 tiveness and gives a sort of diagram of the general laying-out of the 

 garden, is far from satisfactory, for it conveys no real impression of 

 those subtleties of effect which were the intention of the original 

 designer. It misses the true sentiment of garden-making, and makes 

 commonplace what should be fascinating in its quaint variety and 

 daintiness of feeling. 



The principle which has been followed in the illustrations of this 

 number has been, as can plainly be perceived, to avoid as far as 

 possible simple topography, and both in the selection from the 

 material available, and in the treatment of the motives illustrated, to 

 secure the right atmosphere and sentiment of the well-designed 

 garden. In the execution of the large series of photographs from 

 which those reproduced have been chosen, Mr. W. J. Day has 

 entered sincerely into the spirit of the work, and has realised fully 

 what are the pictorial possibilities of the places with which he has had 

 to deal. Consequently it may fairly be claimed that what is presented 

 here illustrates adequately the best type of gardening, and — in 

 accordance with the traditions of The Studio — puts in the first 

 place the artistic aspects of a subject which has been far too often 

 treated with an excessive amount of matter-of-fact actuality. It can 

 be seen, too, that all phases of garden-making have been recognised 

 and considered, and that old and modern work alike has been repre- 

 sented ; so that the series of illustrations sums up sufficiently the results 

 which have been attained by many generations of designers. 

 Care has especially been taken to present the salient features of the 

 various places, those features which make them notable as examples 

 of a pleasant and interesting art, and which deserve the attention of 

 all students of gardening at its best. These features have a definite 

 significance, for they illustrate the manner in which art can be asso- 

 ciated with nature and used to enhance her charm. Their value can 



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