Object Search Record
Images
Additional Images [1]
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1976.1.A201 |
Object Name |
Plan, Landscape |
Date |
1897-1910ca |
Title/Pattern |
Shrub Walk landscape plan |
Artist/Author/Creator |
DeWolf, John |
Description |
Shrub Walk landscape plan, drawn by John DeWolf. The Shrub walk runs east to west from the north side of the Mansion down to the water. Drawn by hand using black ink on heavy brown wove paper. Note this is a large drawing 60H x 36"W. Background: Notes below were taken directly from the Cultural Landscape Report prepared by Tom Elmore (Historical Landscape Architect) for Blithewold in 2022. Pages 128-133 review "Original Designs for Documentation of Historical Planting." Original planting designs, historical photographs and written descriptions of proposed designs or installed designs all help document the layout and intent of the designer. Blithewold's archives are filled with carefully organized family papers, photographs, clothing, paintings, books etc. Research confirms that Bristol native and landscape architect John DeWolf worked with the family to create ornamental grounds for their summer cottage that is emblematic of the Country Place Era. Unfortunately, only two of DeWolf's original designs are known to exist. These plans include 1) Foundation Planting Design around Blithewold II, 1907 and 2) the no-named planting design for the Shrub Walk (1976.1.A201), no date. These plans are extremely helpful to understand what he proposed in both areas. Period photographs visually document what was planted, but do not give us the details about the specific plants. Based on archival photographic evidence, these two planting designs were installed. John DeWolf wrote his Suggestions for Proposed Plan for the Improvement of Ornamental Grounds Belonging to A.S. Van Wickle, Esq. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca 1986, which describes his design intentions for improving the landscape. It is interesting to note that this proposed plan was for Blithewold I, which burned to the ground in June 1906. His recommendations for the grounds away from the mansion seem to have been implemented. Since this plan or set of plans have not been located a true understanding of the design is unknown. The limited graphic documentation of DeWolf's designs is unfortunate because so much information is in the archives that helps document the landscape and yet this data gap exists. The lack of his original landscape drawings and plans limits a detailed understanding of his original design intentions as he had planned them. You can see this section of the report by using the Media link. |
Materials |
Paper/Paperboard/Ink |
Condition |
Good |
Associated with |
DeWolf, John |
Search Terms |
Blithewold II Landscape Landscape drawing Shrub Walk Shrub Tree Garden Horticulture Plan Map Drawing |
Catalog Sub-category |
Documentary Artifact |