The French Landscape Garden

The influence of critical contemporary writers, poets and painters, arguing against the artificial beauty of baroque art resulted in the development of an entirely new system of values: "Back to nature" was the declared motto of classicism. Especially painters inspired the idea to model gardens on an ideal image of nature. Beholders should get the impression of standing before a harmonical picture. Unpruned trees and bushes, uneven ground and vegetation that was left to grow freely, all of that was designed to tell of nature´s perfect beauty, and it also reflected a freer lifestyle. The designers wanted to convey impressions of gardens and landscapes alike. They tried to create literary and historical associations, and to appeal to the sensitivity in people´s minds. Visiting a garden was meant to be an elevating and emotional experience.