The State Hermitage Museum: Exhibitions

Lake Pavilion at Stowe

Another of George Bickham's engravings - "A View over the Great Basin to the Entrance between the Pavilions" served as the source for the depiction of one of the Lake Pavilions at Stowe. These pavilions stood either side of the entrance to the park. They were built to the design of Sir John Vanburgh in 1720. The depiction of the pavilion, skilfully placed on the lid of the sauce vessel (above the notch for the spoon) is surrounded by an invented landscape. Catherine II was very familiar with views of Stowe. In 1771 Francois de Paule Latapie published in French his adaptation of Thomas Whately's book "Observation of Modern Gardening"(1770), supplementing Whately's text a detailed description of Stowe including a plan. We know that this publication made such a strong impression on the Russian Empress that she was inclined to view the book as a course in practical gardening.