Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton (often mistakenly Humphrey ) (* April 21, 1752 in Bury St. Edmunds, † March 24, 1818 in Aylsham ) was a famous English landscape architect of the 18th century. He stood in the footsteps of the famous landscaper Capability Brown who died in 1783. In 1800 Repton designed to Russel Square, Bloomsbury Square, London. He also distinguished himself as a botanist, who did not shrink even before the difficulties of the 19th century increasingly technological sowing.
Life
Repton was the second surviving child of the tax collector John Repton ( baptized in 1714, † 1775) and his wife Martha Fitch († 1773) from Moor Hall in Suffolk. The family moved to Norwich in 1762, where his father ran a trucking company. Humphry Repton was in Bury St Edmunds and Norwich to school. His father had him trained as a businessman, so he attended for one year the school of Algidius Zimmerman in Workum in the Netherlands to learn Dutch. He then lived in Rotterdam with the family of wealthy banker Zachary Hope. Here he came into contact with the " better society " and earned his preference for a life of luxury. At 16, he returned to Norwich and became an apprentice to a draper. In the course of his training, he traveled to Germany and the Netherlands, where he admired the local gardens.
On 5 May 1773 married Mary Clarke ( 1749-1827 ), and began with his father's money own business. Misspeculations, shipwrecks and a lack of diligence, however, led to permanent losses. Stephen Daniels, his biographer describes his taste for spending instead of earning money. After the death of his parents - they were buried in Aylsham - he bought Old Hall in Sustead at Cromer, in the estate of William Windham of Felbrigg, a Whig politician who sold his company and lived on his father's legacy. His brother John for operation in the nearby Oxnead a successful farm, his sister Dorothy lived with her husband in Aylsham.
In Old Hall he botanized, read books from circulating libraries, maintained an extensive correspondence, wrote poetry, played the flute and recorded. Since he could not handle money and did not have the income of a country nobleman whose lifestyle he imitated, but he was increasingly in need of money. As Windham was appointed in 1783 as Chief Secretary for Ireland, he took a job as his private secretary. Repton traveled with him to Dublin, where he excelled socially and sketches of picturesque landscapes anfertigte. However Windham resigned after a month because he feared damage to his health and dismissed Repton without reimbursing him travel expenses only. Repton went on to Bath, where he tried to earn his living as a caricature artist. With the impresario John Palmer, he devised a plan to reform the stagecoach system, which probably fell back on the experience of his father. The plan was adopted, Repton and his partner but nothing deserved it. Returning to Norfolk, he had to sell his estate and move his family into a house in Kötter Hare Street in Essex. Here he wrote essays and plays.
Introduction to landscape architecture
Repton was 35 years old and had four children when he bethought himself to offer herself as a landscape gardener for the upper classes. After the death of Capability Brown, no one had taken his place. The first contract was awarded to Repton in 1788 for the large country estate Catton Park north of Norwich. Despite the lack of experience in practical horticulture, the garden was a surprising success. This was certainly his talent, but also the clarity with which he presented his designs. These Zinner made a so-called " Red Books " with watercolors and explanatory text and overlays for before and after views. Repton was good at it, to flatter the owners and to suit their tastes. 1791 Repton laid along the garden of Holwood House in Kent, the estate of William Pitt. A daughter Pitts, Harriet, was married with a son of Lord Eliot from Cornwall, so that Repton presumably by Pitt's recommendation in 1792 was commissioned to redesign of Port Eliot. Lord Eliot further recommended Repton, so this in Cornwall and the gardens of Antony House, Catch French, Tregothnan and Trewarthenick redesigned.
Creative development
In England until the end of the 17th century, the gardens were laid out on a regular basis. Capability Brown had become of more importance in the development of an early 18th century imported natural style. Repton efforts focused now on to better integrate the respective structures in the design of the environment. He led the formerly usual formal terraces, balustrades, pergolas and flower gardens again, to create a bright, colorful whole complex, with lawns up to the house and beautiful views into the surrounding parkland. During the 19th century, this design should be general practice.
Architecture played an important role in many of Repton landscape designs, he described himself ( the first ) as a landscape architect. In the 1790s he therefore frequently collaborated with at the time still unknown architect John Nash, and later with his own sons.
His design criteria included a recent report by 1794 consistency ( congruity ), benefits, order, symmetry, painterly effects, complexity ( intricacy ), diversity, simplicity, link, magnificence, adequacy and vitality.
Executed garden and parks
Major English manor with gardens designed by Repton and parks are:
- Antony House in Cornwall
- Attingham Park between Shrewsbury and the River Severn, in the possession of the Berwick family
- Bayham Abbey
- Beaudesert in Staffordshire (1814 )
- Bolwick Hall
- Catton Park and Old Catton, Norwich
- Cobham Hall
- Harewood House
- Hatchlands Park
- Highams Park, Woodford
- Kenwood House
- Stanage Park
- Woburn Abbey.