The decades before the First World War are often referred to as the Golden Afternoon of gardening. They were also the Golden Afternoon of garden painting. Although they dropped out of favour for most of the 20th century there has been a revival of interest in the last 30 years or so and we’re sure you’ll see why. We shall echo Roy Strong who saw himself looking at their work and “sauntering past immemorial yew hedges to linger over a herbaceous border before ascending ancient stone steps leading through a weathered iron gate to who knows where.”
But not all gardens are that grand. This was the age of the cottage garden too, and of early garden and plant photography, while all the time, in the distance, is the cenotaph.
Week 1 March 2nd: The Old English Garden - David
Unless you have pored over old arthouse auction catalogues or spent time looking at watercolours on provincial gallery walls you might not have heard of George Elgood or Arthur Rowe, yet they were probably the leading garden artists of this period. They revered all old formal gardens for their “well-ordered classical restraint” and managed to capture their transitory spirit both in watercolour and book illustrations.
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After a career as a head teacher in Inner London David Marsh took very early retirement (the best thing he ever did) and returned to education on his own account and did an MA then a PhD in garden history. Now he lectures on. gardens history anywhere that will listen to him, and helps organise the Garden History seminar at London University’s Institute of Historical Research. He is co-chair of the Education and Events Committee of the Gardens Trust, for who he organises courses and writes a weekly blog which you can find here.
