218 THE PRAISE OF GARDENS 



HUMPHRY Was the first to assume professionally the title of 'Landscape Gardener.' 

 REPTON Having failed as a merchant, he settled in Norfolk, and tried Agricultural 

 (1752-1818). Experiments and gardening was Confidential Secretary to Mr Windham, Lord 

 Lieutenant of Ireland in 1783 then residedin Harestreet, Essex, till his death. 

 He lost more money in Palmer's mail-coach system, and then announced himself 

 as 'Landscape Gardener.' ' Capability' Brown, by his death in 1784, having 

 left the field open, Repton began a period of unintemtpted prosperity. He 

 published, 1795, ' Sketches and Hints on Landscape Gardening* ', 1803, 

 * Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening* ; 1806, 

 ' Inquiry into the Changes of Taste in Landscape Gardening' ; 1808, ' Designs 

 for the Pavilion at Brighton' (not accepted] ; 1816, 'Fragments on the Theory 

 of Landscape Gardening, ' assisted by his son ; all reprinted by J. C. Loudon, 

 in 1840, in one volume, with a Memoir of the aiithor. (Knight's Biography.) 



Humphry Repton next occupied the attention of many, who confirmed 

 their opinion of his skill and taste by greatly encouraging his professional 

 labours. Considered as an eleve of Brown's school, and, at first, the zealous 

 defender both of his system and practice, it is clear, that when he became 

 more firmly established, he invented for himself, and trusted to his own talents. 

 He declared himself a professor of an art, to which he gave the designation of 

 'Landscape Gardening,' about the year 1788, and continued his practice of 

 'producing beautiful effects,' till his death in 1818. If the character of this 

 artist's talents be fairly examined and defined, it was more for elegant orna- 

 ment and prettiness, than for any decided effort of original genius. He 

 studied, in most instances, rather to gratify his employers by acceding to their 

 previous intentions, than to attempt grandeur in any scene. Amenity was his 

 leading object colonnades of wicker work covered with flowering shrubs, or 

 large conservatories, in fanciful forms, were made the appendage of mansions, 

 no longer as Brown had left them, bald and exposed. He continued to be ad- 

 mired and popular, as long as the ardour for improving places and the fashion 

 itself lasted. Nor can it now be said that it has passed away. Dallaway's 

 1 Anecdotes of Modern Gardening.' 



/ ~PO improve the scenery of a country, and to display its native 

 * beauties with advantage, is an Art which originated in 

 England, and has therefore been called English Gardening; yet 

 as this expression is not sufficiently appropriate, especially since 

 gardening, in its more confined sense of Horticulture, has been 

 likewise brought to the greatest perfection in this country, I have 

 adopted the term Landscape Gardening, as most proper, because 

 the art can only be advanced and perfected by the united powers 

 of the landscape painter and the practical gardener. The former 



