The Empress and the Gardner
The exhibition featured in the 2014 edition of Topiarius is taking place at Hampton Court between 28th April & 4th September this year. This is to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Lancelot ‘ Capability’ Brown. The sixty watercolours by John Spyers, Brown’s draftsman, give a fascinating insight into the Palace and its gardens during the time that Brown was Head Gardener there for George III.
The watercolours were bought by Catherine the Great (who hoped, but failed, to lure Brown to St Petersberg) and were only recently rediscovered in the vaults of The Hermitage.
Caroline Foley
Images © The State Hermitage Museum & Hampton Court Palace