Repton (Humphry) architectural and landscape designs, 1807-1913, 1807-1813

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Summary

Title:

Humphry Repton architectural and landscape designs

Dates:

1807-1813

Creators:

Repton, Humphry, 1752-1818

Abstract:

English landscape designer. An assembled collection of drawings, letters and a report document Humphry Repton's designs for gardens and buildings.

Extent:

3.0 linear feet (3 boxes, 2 flat file folders)

Language:

Collection material is in English

Preferred citation:

Humphry Repton architectural and landscape designs, 1807-1813, Research Library, The Getty Research Institute, Accession no. 850834.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa850834

Background

Scope and content:

An assembled collection of drawings, letters, and a report document Humphry Repton's designs for gardens and buildings. Garden designs were proposed for Ashridge, Herts., owned by the Earl of Bridgewater, circa 1807-1813. (The designs were adapted and implemented after Repton's death by Sir Jeffry Wyatville.) Three drawings present designs for the Earl of Spencer's Harleston Park, Northamptonshire (undated). Four ink drawings are designs by Humphry and George Repton for a lodge for Chas. Hoare (Luscombe), circa 1810. A sketchbook with the title "A few hints concerning landscape sketches" (circa 1810) was made by Repton and describes how to use watercolor in landscape drawings.

Biographical / historical:

English author and landscape designer, Repton is sometimes called the sucessor to the landscape designer Lancelot "Capability" Brown, though Repton was never as financially successful.

Initially untrained in architecture, landscape design, or gardening when he began his career, Repton used his drawing skills to obtain clients. Unlike other landscape designers, Repton left the exectution of his designs to others. He produced books for his clients that showed before and after views to help them visualize his designs. Usually in red bindings, these design proposals became known as Repton's "Red Books" and perhaps were the foundation of the books he published, Sketches and Hints on Landscape Gardening (1795) Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening (1803), and Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening (1816). An example of a Red Book can be found in this collection.

Repton worked with his sons, the architect John Adey Repton and George Repton. The Reptons practiced together and separately with the architect John Nash prior to 1800.

Acquisition information:

Acquired in 1984 and 1985 in separate acquisitions and compiled by the Repository. Report concerning the gardens at Ashridge is from the De Belder Library.

Processing information:

Processed by J. Gibbs

Physical location:

Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Architecture--Great Britain--19th century
Landscape design--Great Britain
Landscape drawing--Great Britain
Architectural drawings--England--19th century
Sketches--England--19th century

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid prepared by J. Gibbs.
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-05-08T11:50-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:: Open for use by qualified researchers.
Terms of access:: Contact Library Rights and Reproductions.