Release date is 2022-10-22

Rita Farinha and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by National Library of Portugal (Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal).)

"Os jardins ou a arte de aformosear as paisagens: Poema" by Jacques Delille is a didactic poem written in the early 19th century. The work reflects on the art of gardening and the beauty of landscapes, emphasizing the relationship between nature and human creativity. Through a lyrical exploration of gardens, it discusses the philosophical and aesthetic principles that should guide landscape design. The beginning of the poem introduces the author’s purpose to harmonize the joy of nature with artistic expression. Delille acknowledges the realm of garden art and the writers who influenced him, expressing his anxiety about presenting his work amidst seasoned voices. He aims to capture the beauty of gardens while incorporating the emotional responses they evoke. The prologue sets a tone of respect for nature, suggesting that a true artist should imitate rather than overly manipulate the natural world. The opening themes suggest a deep appreciation for the balance between nature’s wild beauty and the refined elegance that artistic intervention can create. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Originally published: Portugal: Typographia Chalcographica, e Litteraria do Arco do Cego, 1800