Humphry Repton (1752-1818), one of the leading landscape gardeners in England at the end of the 18th century, sought to elevate the profession from commerce to that of a polite art. His proposals included watercolor illustrations that contained a hinged overlay that when removed would reveal the potential he envisioned for the landscape.  Repton’s interest in theater and spectacle is evident in the drama underneath these overlays provided for his clients. 

Repton was also interested in what he referred to as the axis of vision-- the range of depth and perspective by the human eye--a driving force in shaping his landscape proposals. The diagrams shown here elucidate Repton’s meticulously crafted perspectives, in particular, the reflective effect of water on a landscape. The stand-up overlay represents Repton’s idea to remove trees for a better line of vision: “whose dark shadows being reflected on the water, excluded all cheerfulness.” 

1. Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening by Humphry Repton. London: Bensley, Bolt Court, 1803.
2. The Red Books of Humphry Repton: Attingham Park.London: Basilisk Press, 1976.
3. Two reproductions from Observations on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening by Humphry Repton. London: Bensley, Bolt Court, 1803.