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History of Early American Landscape Design

Difference between revisions of "Geometric style"

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==History==
 
==History==
  
The term geometric style came into use  
+
The term geometric style came into use only when it was necessary to make a distinction between the traditional mode of  
only when it was necessary to make a distinction  
+
laying out gardens and the newer modern, natural, or irregular style. Geometric, ancient, and formal were terms used interchangeably to describe gardens laid out symmetrically in straight lines, with strong axial circulation paths and geometrically regular beds [Fig. 1] (see Ancient style). The style was associated with French, Anglo-Dutch, and Italian traditions of gardening (see Dutch style and French style). In America, the geometric style continued to be popular long after the natural or modern style was introduced. As part of a larger landscaped garden, the flower garden was a feature that lent itself to regular shapes. Early public buildings such as the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Va. [Fig. 2], and Governor’s House in New Bern, N.C. [Fig. 3], were laid out in a geometric style although, again, the term was used only after the modern style had become popular. The geometric style continued to be used in public places because of its long-standing association with centers of government.  
between the traditional mode of  
 
laying out gardens and the newer modern,  
 
natural, or irregular style. Geometric,  
 
ancient, and formal were terms used interchangeably  
 
to describe gardens laid out  
 
symmetrically in straight lines, with strong  
 
axial circulation paths and geometrically  
 
regular beds [Fig. 1] (see Ancient style). The  
 
style was associated with French, Anglo-
 
Dutch, and Italian traditions of gardening  
 
(see Dutch style and French style). In  
 
America, the geometric style continued to be  
 
popular long after the natural or modern  
 
style was introduced. As part of a larger  
 
landscaped garden, the flower garden was a  
 
feature that lent itself to regular shapes.  
 
Early public buildings such as the Governor’s  
 
Palace in Williamsburg, Va. [Fig. 2], and Governor’s  
 
House in New Bern, N.C. [Fig. 3],  
 
were laid out in a geometric style although,  
 
again, the term was used only after the modern  
 
style had become popular. The geometric  
 
style continued to be used in public  
 
places because of its long-standing association  
 
with centers of government.  
 
  
The geometric style was also used well into  
+
The geometric style was also used well into the nineteenth century for domestic landscapes throughout the colonies. Often found in town gardens, this style suited the orthogonal layout of street plans and small lots.1 It was equally prevalent in the plantation landscape throughout the South [Fig. 4].2  
the nineteenth century for domestic landscapes  
 
throughout the colonies. Often found  
 
in town gardens, this style suited the orthogonal  
 
layout of street plans and small lots.1 It  
 
was equally prevalent in the plantation landscape  
 
throughout the South [Fig. 4].2  
 
  
A. J. Downing’s description of Lemon Hill  
+
A. J. Downing’s description of Lemon Hill in Philadelphia explained the symmetry, uniformity, and high art of the geometric mode, listing the standard features of the style with its artificial plantations and highly regularized gardens. A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening (1849) contains a miniature vignette of the two main modes of garden design [Fig. 5]. Downing’s descriptions of earlier American gardens, such as Lemon Hill, were respectful from a historical point of view. However, he denigrated his compatriots who continued to practice this mode. His English contemporary, Jane Loudon, whose work he was the first to publish in this country, described the geometric style succinctly without the negative tone found in garden writings such as Downing’s. Mrs. Loudon offered the style as an alternative, suitable and appropriate wherever symmetrical architecture existed. The term “artificial” was often used synonymously with “geometric,” especially when opposed to the so-called natural (or modern style), as in the quotations of George Watterston and Downing.  
in Philadelphia explained the symmetry, uniformity,  
 
and high art of the geometric mode,  
 
listing the standard features of the style  
 
with its artificial plantations and highly regularized  
 
gardens. A Treatise on the Theory and  
 
Practice of Landscape Gardening (1849) contains  
 
a miniature vignette of the two main  
 
modes of garden design [Fig. 5]. Downing’s  
 
descriptions of earlier American gardens,  
 
such as Lemon Hill, were respectful from a  
 
historical point of view. However, he denigrated  
 
his compatriots who continued to  
 
practice this mode. His English contemporary,  
 
Jane Loudon, whose work he was the  
 
first to publish in this country, described the  
 
geometric style succinctly without the negative  
 
tone found in garden writings such as  
 
Downing’s. Mrs. Loudon offered the style as  
 
an alternative, suitable and appropriate  
 
wherever symmetrical architecture existed.  
 
The term “artificial” was often used synonymously  
 
with “geometric,” especially when  
 
opposed to the so-called natural (or modern  
 
style), as in the quotations of George Watterston  
 
and Downing.  
 
  
-- Therese O'Malley
+
-- ''Therese O'Malley''
  
 
==Texts==
 
==Texts==

Revision as of 17:37, February 1, 2016

History

The term geometric style came into use only when it was necessary to make a distinction between the traditional mode of laying out gardens and the newer modern, natural, or irregular style. Geometric, ancient, and formal were terms used interchangeably to describe gardens laid out symmetrically in straight lines, with strong axial circulation paths and geometrically regular beds [Fig. 1] (see Ancient style). The style was associated with French, Anglo-Dutch, and Italian traditions of gardening (see Dutch style and French style). In America, the geometric style continued to be popular long after the natural or modern style was introduced. As part of a larger landscaped garden, the flower garden was a feature that lent itself to regular shapes. Early public buildings such as the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg, Va. [Fig. 2], and Governor’s House in New Bern, N.C. [Fig. 3], were laid out in a geometric style although, again, the term was used only after the modern style had become popular. The geometric style continued to be used in public places because of its long-standing association with centers of government.

The geometric style was also used well into the nineteenth century for domestic landscapes throughout the colonies. Often found in town gardens, this style suited the orthogonal layout of street plans and small lots.1 It was equally prevalent in the plantation landscape throughout the South [Fig. 4].2

A. J. Downing’s description of Lemon Hill in Philadelphia explained the symmetry, uniformity, and high art of the geometric mode, listing the standard features of the style with its artificial plantations and highly regularized gardens. A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening (1849) contains a miniature vignette of the two main modes of garden design [Fig. 5]. Downing’s descriptions of earlier American gardens, such as Lemon Hill, were respectful from a historical point of view. However, he denigrated his compatriots who continued to practice this mode. His English contemporary, Jane Loudon, whose work he was the first to publish in this country, described the geometric style succinctly without the negative tone found in garden writings such as Downing’s. Mrs. Loudon offered the style as an alternative, suitable and appropriate wherever symmetrical architecture existed. The term “artificial” was often used synonymously with “geometric,” especially when opposed to the so-called natural (or modern style), as in the quotations of George Watterston and Downing.

-- Therese O'Malley

Texts

Usage

Citations

Images

Notes

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History of Early American Landscape Design contributors, "Geometric style," History of Early American Landscape Design, , https://heald.nga.gov/mediawiki/index.php?title=Geometric_style&oldid=17962 (accessed March 29, 2024).

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