GIRARDIN, R(ené). L.   DE LA COMPOSITION DES PAYSAGES,   Ou Des Moyens D'Embellir La Nature Autour Des Habitations, En Joignant L'Agréable A L'Utile.     Genève:   1777.          First edition of what can be considered "the most effective summary of the principles of the French version of the picturesque park" (Adams. THE FRENCH GARDEN 1500-1800 p. 129). With contemporary annotations, almost certainly in the hand of the author, which reflect additions which appeared in the revised edition of 1804. The gardens designed by the Marquis de Girardin for his estate at Ermenonville are among the very earliest and most influential French gardens of the "picturesque" or irregular style. His ideas on garden design were influenced by, among other things, his visits to several English gardens (notably the Leasowes), his strong social and humanitarian views, and by the writings of J. J. Rousseau (who visited Ermenonville at the close of his life and was buried on a picturesque island there). His DE LA COMPOSITION DES PAYSAGES is a treatise which presents both the principles and the practical application of his ideas on garden design. He opposed all forms of artificiality and formal plan and sought, instead, to enhance and embellish the existing beauties of nature and to ally them with poetic, romantic and moral associations. To assist in the creation of picturesque effects he recommended that the garden designer bring along with him an artist to analyze and paint the various prospects and help him visualize and perfect his plan. Among his French contemporaries, his views most closely resemble those of Watelet, whose ESSAI SUR LES JARDINS first appeared in 1774. Both were influenced by Rousseau. Girardin's approach, however, is more grounded in practice and derived from aesthetic ideals, while Watelet's more theoretical arguments are more closely tied to his strongly felt social ideals. The influence of Shenstone is also apparent (Girardin erected a memorial to Shenstone at Ermenonville), and it is interesting to note that among the various 18th century theoretical French works on the picturesque or natural garden only Girardin's COMPOSITION was translated and published in England. (For a good discussion of Girardin in general see Dora Wiebenson's THE PICTURESQUE GARDEN IN FRANCE pp. 70-75). Interestingly, in this first French edition, "there are two long passages, missing from the English translation, in which Girardin embarked on a lengthy discussion of Rousseau's social contract and a consideration of Rousseau's ideas on the redistribution of land." (Wiebenson, THE PICTURESQUE GARDEN IN FRANCE p. 75).   8vo (19.7 x 12 cm); xiv + (2) + 160 pp.   Ganay 101.          Bound in later three-quarter morocco, marbled boards, with raised bands on spine and gilt titling in two compartments, matching marbled end papers; internally fine with contemporary corrections, most likely by the author, added to the text in red pen on pages 61, 63 and 128. $1,800.00

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