11" H x 8" W x 1.5" D
A comprehensive anthology by Sir Roy Strong, this coffee table book traces garden history from antiquity to modern times through scholarly essays, quotations, and period illustrations. Enhanced by Julia Trevelyan Oman's elegant decorative elements, it examines gardens as cultural artifacts reflecting power, climate, and aesthetic sensibilities across centuries. Published first in Britain (1991) then America (1993), it emerged during renewed interest in heritage gardening.
This elegantly bound maroon volume features gilt spine lettering and Julia Oman's decorative illustrations throughout. The text guides readers through seven historical garden epochs: from ancient Persian paradise gardens and medieval cloisters to Renaissance parterres, Baroque perspectives, practical kitchen gardens, Victorian glasshouses, and modernist designs. Strong's scholarly narrative and Oman's sketches create an engaging reference for scholars, gardeners, and art enthusiasts alike.
Condition:
The boards remain bright and straight, the gilt spine lettering sharp. Internally the text block is clean, tight and free of markings or foxing. The dust jacket, while fully present, shows wear at the spine ends and upper corners, small chips, tears at the folds, and light rubbing to the front panel’s edges
