An Infinity of Graces: Cecil Ross Pinsent, An English Architect in the Italian Landscape

by Ethne Clarke

Overview

An exploration of the work of the English architect and landscape designer who practiced almost exclusively in Italy from 1907 to midcentury.

English expatriate Cecil Ross Pinsent was responsible for the design and construction of new villas and gardens such as the elegant rural estate La Foce, and the renovation of many historically sensitive ones, including Villa I Tatti, Villa Le Balze, and Villa Medici. Edith Wharton sought his advice; Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson admired and were influenced by him. Geoffrey Scott, author of The Architecture of Humanism, dedicated the book to him; and Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, England’s premier landscape architect, regarded Pinsent as his “first maestro on the placing of buildings in the landscape.” This first book dedicated to bringing to light Pinsent’s contribution to garden design is generously illustrated with photographs from his previously unpublished albums and archive of architectural drawings and sketches, and his letters to family friends and clients.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393732214
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	07/01/2013
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ethne Clarke, creative director of Rodale, writes about garden design and history. She received the 1987 Angel Literary Award, awarded to the best book by a resident of East Anglia, for Art of the Kitchen Garden. Clarke lives in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Preface 9

Introduction: Notions of Italy 19

1 Shaping a Language of Design 27

2 Italy: "How educating!" 45

3 Circles of Influence 61

4 The Last Five Seconds Before Midnight 91

5 A Sense of the Informing Spirit 107

Appendix A List of Clients and Projects 163

Appendix B Cecil Pinsent, "Giardini moderni all'italiana" 174

Notes 177

Sources 183

Index 187

Editorial Reviews

"[H]andsome publication . . . beautiful illustrations . . . The scholarly aspects and completeness of this study are evident in the notes and bibliography of this very beautiful book. Highly Recommended."

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