The First British Book on Landscape Gardens to Feature Plates Printed in Color
Gardens of England.
London: T. McLean, 1857.
Full Description:
BROOKE, Edward Adveno. The Gardens of England. London: T. McLean, 1857.
Deluxe edition complete with 26 chromolithographed color-plates including the title-page, all finished by hand. Title-page with circular view. All plates except title-page are mounted on their original thick card mounts with an ink-ruled border and handwritten title in a fine calligraphic hand. The chromolithographed plates are mounted on guards with manuscript captions. With lithographic dedication leaf and 16 lithographic vignettes on mounted India paper. Extra-illustrated with an additional plate by Brooke of an Italian garden, similarly mounted at the end and not called for in the list of plates. Text leaves and plates are all mounted on guards. Folio (21 x 16 3/4 inches; 532 x 420 mm). Other variations of the book exist being a version with plates not mounted on boards and with printed captions.
Newer straight-grain green morocco. Boards tooled in gilt. Spine elaborately stamped and lettered in gilt. A very good to fine copy.
The chromolithographs are based on Brooke’s drawings, painted from life over a period of years. Brooke was an exhibitor at the Royal Academy and British Institution in the period between 1853 and 1864. This is his only illustrated book. "The additional plate of an Italian garden at the end of our volume, not called-for or mentioned in the bibliographies, suggests that perhaps another work—of Italian or Continental gardens, perhaps—was considered but never came to fruition." (Sotheby's)
"The preparation of the original drawings required that the artist should be upon the spot wherever it was desirable to proceed—and this not for a mere casual visit or a hurried sketch, but for the purpose of patient and careful labour. Thus, Mr. Brooke has spent several summers in undivided attention to the views contained in this volume. Not satisfied with first or second studies, he has made repeated visits to each locality, and is enabled, therefore, to offer drawings which are correct and faithful in all their details" (From the preface).
The magnificent gardens depicted include those at Trentham Hall, Enville Hall, Bowood House, Alton Towers, Elvaston Castle, Shrublands Hall, Woburn Abbey, Worsley Hall, Eaton Hall, Holkham House, Castle Howard and many others.
Abbey Scenery 392.
HBS 69698.
$25,000.
Price: $25,000.00
Item #69698