Stephen Switzer

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Stephen Switzer (* 1682 in East Stratton , baptized on February 25, † June 8, 1745 in Millbank) was an English landscape architect and author of several books on garden design , especially aristocratic mansions .

Life

Stephen Switzer was the younger of two sons of the farmer Thomas Switzer (d. 1697) and his wife Mary Hapgood (d. 1682). Despite the poor parents, Switzer probably enjoyed a good education. Around 1698 he began training as a gardener in the large nursery and nursery at Brompton Park, which was operated by George London , one of England's leading horticulturalists . Switzer became an assistant to London and was given the opportunity to work on the design of important facilities, for example in Castle Howard and in 1704 in Kensington Palace .

From 1705 Switzer worked under Henry Wise and John Vanbrugh at Blenheim Palace . His most important work there was in the sewer system of the River Glyme and in the foundation of the Grand Bridge ("Great Bridge"), which Vanbrugh, who was not a landscaper himself, had designed.

From 1715 Switzer began to publish his horticultural experiences and creative ideas. In 1724 he moved to Millbank ( City of Westminster ). There he founded a business with seeds , which he led to economic success. At the same time he continued to take orders for garden designs and also continued his publishing activity. He extended his considerations to include water arts in the garden.

Horticultural work

Most of Switzer's independent garden designs fell victim to later landscaping , particularly by Lancelot Brown . Switzer represented a landscape design approach that went back to the formal designs of the Baroque period and French garden art . However, Switzer expanded the formal designs extensively and connected the palace building and garden with the surrounding landscape. He advocated the creation of one or two main axes as an essential element, which ran through the entire property and linked buildings with the garden and landscape.

Fonts

  • 1715: The Nobleman, Gentleman, and Gardener's recreation.
  • 1718: Ichnographica Rustica. 3 volumes. Expansion of his first book, later reprinted; is considered his main work
  • 1724: The Practical Fruit Gardener.
  • 1727: The Practical Kitchen Gardener.
  • 1729: Introduction to Hydrostatics and Hydraulics. 2 volumes.
  • 1731: Cythisus of the Ancients.
  • 1733-1734: The Practical Husband and Planter. Monthly magazine that was soon to be discontinued
  • 1734: Universal System of Water and Water Works. 2 volumes.

literature

  • Clemens Alexander Wimmer: History of the garden theory. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1989, ISBN 3-534-01314-X , pp. 154-165.
  • WA Brogden, Patrick Goode: Stephen Switzer. In: Patrick Goode, Michael Lancaster (Eds.): The Oxford companion to gardens. Oxford, New York 2001, ISBN 0-19-860440-8 , p. 545.
  • WA Brogden: Stephen Switzer. In: Oxford dictionary of national biography. Volume 53. Oxford 2004. ISBN 0-19-861403-9 , pp. 525-526.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Switzer, Stephen
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English garden artist and author of gardening books
DATE OF BIRTH baptized February 25, 1682
PLACE OF BIRTH East Stratton
DATE OF DEATH June 8, 1745
Place of death Millbank