Conclusion:
- 18th century English gardens were designed around the need to create from natural terrain
- Political power was the underlining reason for extravagant landscapes
- Into the 19th century women grew independence within the English gardens
Changes with Female involvement:
Examples:
- early 19th century literates encouraged women to garden
- "Lady Gardener" schools were created
- More jobs were created for females to garden
- Mary Wollstonecraft
- Celia Fiennes
- Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
- Hannah More
- Queen Caroline - Consort of George II
Frontispiece, The Lady's Recreation (1707). In Charles Evelyn, The Lady's Recreation Edition of 1717.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu
Questions:
- Does the development of landscape and gardens still hold a strong political and social importance?
- During the course of the 18th century gardens became feminized, this could be seen as both an advantage or a detriment to women. What do you think?
18th century gardener and landscape designer
The Role of Women in 18th Century English Gardens
Class:
- Aristocratic men dominated landscape designs
- Only men could partake in tours throughout Europe
- Upper Class women only toured English Gardens
- Politically powered women could establish personal gardens
The Cultural Significance:
- Gardens were a display of wealth and status
- Men focused on the grand picture, whereas the women took more interest in the flowers and shrubbery.
- 'Exotic' plants soon came to occupy English land
Our Focus:
Pagoda at Kew Botanical Gardens, 1761, designed by William Chambers
- Cultural Importance
- Redesigning the garden
- Class Differences
- Influential female gardeners
- Gardening gave women a sense of purpose
- It was a private place where they could go to reflect on life
- There were negative connotations that went with women spending too much time in the gardens
A Brief History:
- Middle ages = gardens were a source of food and medicine
- 17th century civil wars = women were not allowed to be involved in gardening
- 19th century = gardens were an escape from city life