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1 of 253523 objects
Of gardens: an essay 1904?
27.0 x 1.5 cm (book in box) | RCIN 1047540
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
Sir Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans (1561-1626)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon 1904?
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This sumptuous copy of Francis Bacon's treatise was presented to Queen Alexandra, consort of King Edward VII, in 1904 by the diplomat Sir Reginald Lister (1865-1912).
Written in 1625, Bacon's essay provided the philosophical concepts behind the ideal princely garden, concepts that lafter informed the early landscape gardens of William Kent (d. 1748). Bacon proposed an ideal arrangement of a garden and discussed specific features as desirable or unnecessary, listing garden knots and topiary among the latter.
This copy was an early commission from the specialist book binders Sangorski and Sutcliffe. Inside the elegantly restrained vellum binding (later copies of the treatise received elaborate jewelled covers) is a calligraphic transcription of Bacon's text. Alberto Sangorski (1862-1932) penned and decorated it by hand, emulating the finest illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The ornamental initials and borders are painted with vibrant pigments and gold leaf, raised and highly burnished. The three exquisite miniatures of summer gardens likely depict various sections of the garden at Sandringham House, which was redesigned by Queen Alexandra. Her entwined AA monogram features on the title page. It is surrounded by roses, one of Queen Alexandra's favourite flowers: she included them amongst her favourite things in the design for her bookplate. Alberto Sangorski customised the imagery in this manuscript, as he did in all ten copies of Bacon's work which he produced for distinguished recipients.
Bibliographic description
[19] p. : illuminated ms. on vellum.
Provenance
Presented to Queen Alexandra by Sir Reginald Lister, late Secretary to Legation in Copenhagen, on 1 December 1904.
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Creator(s)
(calligrapher)(binder)Acquirer(s)
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Measurements
27.0 x 1.5 cm (book in box)
Category
Alternative title(s)
Of gardens : an essay / by Francis Bacon.
