William Kent Gardening Architect Designer

Who was William Kent?

William Kent was an English architect, landscape designer, and furniture maker. He is best known for his landscape gardening. He was born in Calcutta, Bengal, India. He is most famous for his landscape design at Chatsworth House, which was the first English garden to incorporate naturalistic gardening. He also designed the gardens at Wrest Park, Newbury College and Claremont House. He was a designer of furniture and decorative arts as well. He was a member of the Royal Society of Arts, a Fellow of the Royal Society, and had a Royal Warrant as Gardener to the King. Although born in Bengal, William Kent was educated in London, and spent much of his career in England. He was educated at Bromley School, at Ealing.

Early years in England

Kent first worked in his family's gardens in Chiswick, London, where he learned much about gardening and design. At the age of 22, he went to Italy to study art, architecture, and gardening. He returned to England in 1756, at which time he designed gardens at Stowe House. In 1760, Kent was asked to design a garden for a new house in Hertfordshire. The result, at Wotton House, was a highly original garden that established Kent's reputation as a master designer of naturalistic gardens. In 1761, Kent was engaged by the Duke of Devonshire to design a new garden at Chatsworth. The result was a highly naturalistic landscape that broke with the formal pattern of earlier gardens.

Careers in Horticulture and Interior Design

The gardening career of William Kent was just one part of a long and varied life. He also worked as an interior designer, designing furniture and decorations. Many features of the interior design of his day are still recognizable today. Kent's career as an interior designer began by chance. After completing the design of the gardens at Newbury House the owner, Edward Parker, asked him to redecorate one of the rooms. So pleased was Parker with his work that he employed him to redecorate the rest of the house. Kent's designs were widely admired and much imitated. Many of the features of his furniture and decoration are still found in modern designs. His originality and influence can be seen in the fact that he was a favourite designer of several monarchs.

William Kent’s most Famous Gardens

Kent’s most famous gardens are. This is the earliest of William Kent’s designs, and is widely acknowledged as his first masterpiece. The gardens were first designed in around 1760, and were, at the time, highly unusual. Chatsworth House. Chatsworth is the most famous of all William Kent’s designs, and is often cited as the first truly naturalistic garden in England. The house was built in the late 16th century, but the gardens were not begun until the late 18th century. This house and garden were built between 1772 and 1774. The gardens were designed by William Kent, and have been described as a miniature Chatsworth. William Kent was employed by Edward Parker, a friend of the King, to design the gardens at Newbury House, now Newbury College, between 1766 and 1768. Wrest Park, Wrest Park was built in the 17th century. The gardens were designed by William Kent between 1774 and 1778.

Kent’s legacy: Influence on the Art of Landscape Design

William Kent was a major architect of the English Country garden movement. His designs were popular in his lifetime and remain so today. Many of the features he introduced are still found in modern gardens. His designs broke with the formal layout of the traditional garden and introduced new elements such as naturalized plantings and a more relaxed style of gardening. He was a founding member of the Royal Society of Arts and was greatly admired by his contemporaries. His originality and influence can be seen in the fact that he was a favourite designer of several monarchs.

Conclusion

William Kent was one of the most influential gardeners of his time. His designs broke with the formal layout of the traditional garden and introduced new elements such as naturalized plantings and a more relaxed style of gardening. His originality and influence can be seen in the fact that he was a favourite designer of several monarchs. His designs remain popular in his lifetime and continue to be admired and copied.