In the Gardens of Impressionism - Softcover

'Anyone interested in the Impressionists must obviously have this book, but it is a significant addition to the garden shelf as well' - The Art Newspaper 'A book that pleases both the mind and eye with intelligent new analysis of a beloved Impressionist subject' - Royal Academy Magazine 'Hugely enriches our understanding of the sensual culture in which Impressionist garden painting flourished' - Art Quarterly 'A millefeuille tapestry of observation, comparison and literary and philosophical analogy' - Apollo 'Lots of lovely pictures, but the text is serious and informative' - Sunday Times 'Ravishing' - Guardian 'Takes the reader on an exhilarating stroll past light-dappled lily ponds and through Parisian parks ' - The Times 'A luscious landscape of a book, showing how these artists adopted the plein air style' - Financial Times 'Elegantly and lucidly written, and blessedly free from jargon' - Gardens Illustrated

For the first time, this book explores to the full, with dazzling visual accompaniment, the fascinating story of the Impressionist love affair with the new thinking about gardens, their flowers and design, in 19th-century France. It discusses the artists both as painters and as gardeners, and, using source material such as contemporary gardening manuals, offers exciting new interpretations of their art. It also looks at the garden, public or private, as a new kind of space with political undertones, and relates it to the Impressionists’ adoption of plein-air techniques. While the approach is to concentrate on analyses of specific works, the historical context is presented in a clear, informative and engaging manner. There is also some lively discussion of the private lives of these artists.

Table of Contents

1. Flowers of Tradition · 2. Horticulture and Pleinairisme · 3. Private Gardens in Early Impressionism · 4. Painting the Parisian ‘Bouquet’ · 5. Sunshine, Shadows and Sanctuary · 6. The Social Garden · 7. The Working Garden · 8. Cultivating Inspiration 9. The Impressionist Garden Beyond France