338 
LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 
with water, the graceful or picturesque imitations of natural 
lakes or ponds, and brooks, rivulets, and streams. Such are 
the only forms in which this unrivalled element can be dis- 
played so as to harmonize agreeably with natural and pic- 
turesque scenery. In the latter, there can be no apology 
made for the introduction of straight canals, round or oblong 
pieces of water, and all the regular forms of the geometric 
mode ; because they would evidently be in violent opposi- 
tion to the whole character and expression of natural land- 
scape. In architectural, or flower gardens, (of which we 
shall hereafter have occasion to offer some remarks,) where 
a different and highly artificial arrangement prevails, all 
these regular forms, with various jets, fountains, etc., may 
be employed with good taste, and will combine well with 
the other accessories of such places. But in the grounds of 
a residence in the modern style, nature , if possible, still 
more purified, as in the great chefs d oeuvres of art, by an 
ideal standard, should be the great aim of the Landscape 
Gardener. And with water especially, only beautiful when 
allowed to take its own flowing forms and graceful motions, 
more than with any other of our materials, all appearance 
of constraint and formality should be avoided. If art be at 
all manifest, it should discover itself only, as in the admira- 
bly painted landscape, in the reproduction of nature in her 
choicest developments. Indeed, many of the most cele- 
brated authors who have treated of this subject, appear to 
agree, that the productions of the artist in this branch, are 
most perfect, as they approach most nearly to fac-similes of 
nature herself : and though art should have formed the 
whole, its employment must be nowhere discovered by the 
spectator ; or as Tasso has more elegantly expressed the 
idea : 
“ l’aRTE CHE TUTTO FA, NULLA SI SCOPRE.” 
