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Repton, Humphry, 1752-1818 / Observations on the theory and practice of landscape gardening: including some remarks on Grecian and Gothic architecture, collected from various manuscripts, in the possession of the different noblemen and gentlemen, for whose use they were originally written; the whole tending to establish fixed principles in the respective arts
(1803)

Chapter IX: Defence of the art--difference between landscape gardening and painting--further answer to Messrs. Price and Knight--cursory remarks on views from rooms, appropriation, extent, &c.--example from Attingham--pictures may imitate nature, but nature is not to copy pictures,   pp. 107-112


Page 108

108
and   therefore, with     permission   of the    respective proprie-
tors, I insert the following observations from the Red Books
of StFTON     COURT, in     Herefordshire, and ATTINGHAM, in
Shropshire.
"My opinion concelkning the improvement of SUFTON COURT;
involving many principles in the art of landscape gardening,
t take this opportunity      of justifying my practice, in oppo-
sition to the wild theory which has lately appeared: and shall
therefore occasionally allude to this new system when it bears
any relation to our objects at SUFTON COVRT.
Having already published a volume on the subject of land-
scape gardening, it will be unnecessary -to explain the motives
which induced me to adopt this name for a profession, as
distinct from the art of landscape painting, as it is from the art
of planting cabbages, or pruning fruit trees.k The slight, and
often gaudy sketches, by which I have found it necessary to
elucidate my opinions, are the strongest proofs that I do not
profess to be a landscape painter; but to represent the scenes
of nature in her various hues of blue sky, purple mountains,
k "c In the art of gardening, the great materials of the scene are provided by
"nature herself, and the artist must satisfy himself with that degree of expression
"which she has bestowed.
"In a landscape, on the contrary, the painter has the choice of the circumstances
"he is to represent, and can give whatever force or extent he pleases to the expression
"he wishes to convey. In gardening the materials of the scene are few, and those
'few unwieldy, and the artist must often content himself with the reflection that he
has given the best disposition in his power to the scanty and intractible materials
"of nature. In a landscape, on the coatrary, the whole range of scenery is before
"the eye of the painter."
ALLISON.


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