I have just managed to spend an entire day in the garden without being rained on! This was so lovely that I thought I would share some Regency prints with a gardening theme in the hope that they will inspire you, even if it is raining again when you read this.The garden was very important to the Regency lady as part of her elegant surroundings, a way of displaying her taste and income. Having the latest plants, the most fashionable furnishings and statues and a range of interesting walks for her guests would all be of importance. I am not sure whether these two are a married couple or whether a little light flirtation is about to take place! (Le Beau Monde or Literary & Fashionable Magazine August 1807)
The formal garden close to the house was the place for ornamental plants, but anyone with an estate would also have pleasure grounds with shrubberies and woodland walks. Picnics could be held there and there is definitely some rather scandalous behaviour taking place in this detail from a print in the French Modes et Mannieres series.
If you could afford it you would have a gardener, of course, like this chap drawn by Pyne in his book of examples for aspiring amateur artists to include in their own compositions. Their employers, however, often developed an interest in hands-on gardening themselves - which probably was not very popular with the real workers!
And finally, also from Ackermann, here is a gorgeous outfit for strolling in the garden or posing on a Classically-inspired stone seat. I somehow don't think this lady is going to be potting up foxgloves in that outfit!Louise Allen
8 comments:
the scandalous behaviour you mention is certainly something that caught my eye. I find gardening therapeutic and the weather at the moment (lots of sun and rain) has made everything grow a treat. Was it just the really well off people who could afford gardener's back then?
Frank - I think most middle class/professional people would be able to employ someone to do the gardening, even if he wasn't a live-in memebr of staff
Lovely summery post, Louise. Bit worried as to what the gentleman at the top is doing with that cane. And think watering-girl is more 'posing with plants' than actually gardening :) [I would have thought foxgloves too vigorous to grow in a pot, myself. Wonder if tastes have changed or whether the artist didn't have a clue?]
Jan - I think he's pointing out that foxgloves are unsuitable for indoor pots
Lovely post, Louise. The couple in the top picture are surely married or related. No gentleman would sit in the presence of a standing lady unless they were either married or very intimate indeed.
I don't know if you've read Henry James's novel 'Portrait of a Lady'. The heroine Isabel realizes that her husband, Gilbert Osmond, is having an affair with Madame Merle the instant she sees him sitting and Madame Merle standing next to the chair.
It's one of those social clues we've lost.
ooh, Elizabeth, that puts a whole new slant on the pictures Louise has posted. Must go back and take a second look!
Very enjoyable post. You always have such lovely pics, Louise. And Elizabeth, I will remember that cue -- so significant! (Although perhaps an alternative is that he's very rude. Or trying to upset her. Or... Can't help but think in terms of story scenes. ;))
I love your prints, Louise, they're beautiful! Have been trying to do gardening myself this week and battling with an army of weeds - can't imagine trying to do it dressed like that :-)
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