Topiary, Knots and Parterres

by Caroline Foley

Overview

After a brief survey of Roman topiary, this book moves on through the formal parterres of Renaissance Italy and the more elaborate broderies of the royal French gardens (copied in palace gardens throughout Europe), the complicated conceits of the Tudors and the geometry of the Dutch school. It takes a wry look at the 18th century, when many fine formal gardens were scrapped in favor of the English landscape school, which, in fact, was no less artificial. In the 19th century there was a revival of parterres filled with tender bedding plants. Green architecture returned with the Arts and Crafts movement, became unfashionable in the mid-20th century and has had a revival in the last decade or so in a more abstract and sculptural form, inspired somewhat by Japanese "cloud" topiary. Widening the story beyond the topiary of Europe and the west, there are chapters on the ancient art of Japanese topiary and on labyrinths and mazes from Minoa. The second half of the book brings us up to date, taking a look at topiary as used by designers such as Jacques Wirtz, Piet Oudolf, Arne Maynard, Tom Stuart-Smith, Fernando Caruncho, as well as talented private garden owners. Finally there is a projection into the future, with the potential for topiary in industrial settings and amenity horticulture and its influence on land art.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781910258187
Publisher:	Pimpernel Press
Publication date:	09/01/2017
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.70(h) x 1.60(d)

About the Author

Caroline Foley is the author of 10 books, including Of Cabbages and Kings: The History of Allotments. She has been the editor of Topiarius, the pan-European journal of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society, for 10 years.

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

The Patrician Gardens of Rome: AD 79-476 14

Byzantium and the Paradise Garden: AD 395-1453 26

Medieval Europe: And the Hortus Conclusus 5th-15th centuries 32

The Italian Renaissance: Humanism, the High Renaissance and Mannerism 15th-17th centuries 46

The French Renaissance: 15th-17th centuries 74

Britain: The Tudors and Stuarts 1509-1613 108

War in Europe: And the Dutch Golden Age 1613-1702 132

The Swan Song of the Formal Garden: England at the turn of the 18th century 164

The Landscape Movement: England in the 18th century 182

The Victorian Garden: England in the 19th century 206

The Arts and Crafts Movement: The late 19th and early 20th centuries 228

Summing Up: Into the 21st century 250

Garden glossary 282

Further reading 284

Index 285

Acknowledgments 288

Editorial Reviews

Highly recommended for anyone interested in the fascinating history of topiary or gardening.” —Library Journal


“a wonderful resource and engaging work." —Plant Talk
 
 

From the Publisher

10/15/2017
Author (Of Cabbages and Kings) and editor (European Boxwood and Topiary Society's Topiarius) Foley aims to disabuse readers of the notion that topiary, the art of shaping plants and shrubs, is a lofty, mysterious technique. She leads readers on an entertaining romp through gardens from ancient Rome to the present, showcasing topiary's versatility and practicality in examples drawn from four continents. Thoroughly researched, this book incorporates literary references, poetry, and inspiring illustrations to demonstrate the tenacity of topiary. Going in and out of fashion over two millennia, the craft seems to reemerge when some culture or famous garden designer takes a fresh approach. Chronologically organized chapters highlight the major trends in topiary and discuss how gardeners were influenced by larger trends in society, politics, and religion. Readers learn about sublime French royal parterres as well as amusing American figurative topiary. A helpful glossary and bibliography for further reading are included. Inspired readers will concede topiary is an inexpensive way to create plain backdrops, play with decorative shapes, and improve fruiting, but practical books such as Jake Hobson's The Art of Creative Pruning will help them acquire the basic skills. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone interested in the fascinating history of topiary or gardening.—Bonnie Poquette, Milwaukee

Library Journal