AKED, G. D.   GARDENS.         (Florence:   1965).          A fascinating presentation album of garden designs prepared by the nomadic English artist G. D. ("Pat") Aked. Although Aked was never known as a garden designer, he apparently gave thought to the idea of becoming one and created this album as a result. It follows a consistent format with photographs mounted on the left side to show an existing location, and a drawing or water color on the right side showing a proposed garden design based on the photographed view. Aked was living in Italy at the time and most of the photographs he uses show arid, rural views, possibly somewhere in Southern Italy or Spain. Most show either old, simple rustic street scenes in poor rural villages, or else unfinished building sites. The drawings transform them into wonderful Mediterranean gardens of the sort that would certainly have appealed to the English expatriates in Italy that Aked would have known. It is unlikely that any of these southern gardens were ever actually built, or even intended for building. Following them, however, there are also 6 pages with similar presentations for a garden to be built on a small country estate somewhere in the British Isles. We have not identified the site, but Aked was notorious as a long-term house guest at the homes of his numerous English friends and it seems plausible, at least, that these designs were prepared for one of these hosts. At the end of the album are eight photographs with views of a fully completed English garden. It includes an attractive lily pond and extensive natural rock work. Though unidentified, it seems certain that it was designed by Aked. It was probably the only garden he ever carried out, since the album includes numerous blank leaves that must have been intended for the completion photographs of the other commissions he never received. The evidence of his drawings and the photographs of his one completed work give reason to regret this unaccomplished career. The album is signed on the front fly leaf "G. D. Aked / Florence / 65"   Oblong folio (35.5 x 50 cm) 28 album leaves with 32 photographs, 13 ink wash drawings and one garden plan.            Original custom made, brass bolted card covers with cloth spine. $950.00

CLICK To Return To Catalogue     /    HOME