Imperial Chinese gardens display a variety of pavillions, lakes and fountains blending Chinese and Western elements.
Every emperor must have a garden where he may stroll and relax his heart.’ So believed the Qianlong Emperor, whose ‘Garden of Perfect Brightness’ displayed a variety of pavilions, lakes and fountains, blending Chinese and Western elements. Another great park was laid out in the mountains near Chengde; it was much admired by the first British visitors in 1793. By now views of these gardens had reached England, stimulating the fashion for landscape gardening. In the Forbidden City itself are ancient junipers, ‘scholars’ rocks’, peonies and other flowers; ‘Qianlong’s garden’ includes spectacular trompe-l’oeil floral effects, which have recently been restored.
How to book this event:
Free to members visitors welcome cost £10.
THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER
Dr Patrick Conner
1970-71 Teacher at Marlborough College. 1975-86 Keeper of Fine Art at the Royal Pavilion, Art Gallery & Museums, Brighton. Since 1986 Director of the Martyn Gregory Gallery, London. Author of several books including Savage Ruskin, Oriental Architecture in the West and George Chinnery, artist of India and the China Coast.
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1 Kingswood Grove
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