Picturesque studies Sequentional analysis - Technische Universiteit ...

Stourhead 17608Stourhead 1760In the 18the century a more dynamic view of nature evolves. The better man is able tocontrol nature the more his attitude towards nature changes. It looks as if theenvironment can be controlled. In western Europe the parts that are still 'wild' becomesmaller and smaller. Nature is no longer seen as just being hostile nut also assomething romantic. An ideal view of nature evolves: an Arcadian landscape thatreflects the grandness of gods creation. This is reflected in the 'landscape style' thatevolves in England. In this form of landscape architecture landscape is arranged inscenes based on visual relations. It is not without reason that the English languageuses the word 'scenery' as an equivalent of landscape (Which by the way is a Dutchword). The idea is that somebody who walks through the artificial landscape will bepresented by a number of arranged scenes. The walk is a metaphor of the 'walk oflife', the scenes are meant to evoke thoughts, they show classical temples, symbolicstatues etc. In the tradition of the 18th and 19th century architecture and landscapedesign have the ambition to educate the observers.Dotted lines: lines of sights of the arranged scenesIllustrations of Stourhead from 'Archutecture and landscape' by Wouter Reh and Clemens Steenbergen.8