GIRARDIN, René.   DE LA COMPOSITION DES PAYSAGES,   Sur Le Terrain, Ou Des Moyens D'Embellir La Nature Autour Des Habitations, En Y Joignant L'Agréable A L'Utile...     &nbspParis: Chez Debray,   1805.          Fourth Edition (revised). 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 (first published in 1777) 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 and this volume in particular see Dora Wiebenson's THE PICTURESQUE GARDEN IN FRANCE pp. 70-75.) The present "fourth" edition was published three years before Girardin's death and received at least some revision and correction from the first. For example: Girardin's famous statement that LeNôtre "massacred" Nature is slightly modified here and followed by a new six-page footnote in which he elaborates on and defends his objections to Le Nôtre.   8vo (20.9 x 12.6 cm); 183 pp.   Ganay 101          Contemporary full green calf with gilt outer panels, decoratively gilt spine with floral devices and lettering, marbled end papers, a.e.g. A very good copy. $1,000.00

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