Gertrude Jekyll Paintings

Gertrude Jekyll was an influential British horticulturist, garden designer, artist, and writer. Born on November 29, 1843, in London, England, Jekyll spent most of her life in Surrey where she developed a deep love and understanding of plants and landscapes, which would become the hallmark of her career. She was educated at home and then at the Kensington School of Art where she developed her artistic skills, especially in painting. Jekyll never married and devoted her life to her work and her brother Walter's family.

Jekyll's contribution to horticulture is particularly significant for her pioneering role in the development of the English country garden style that emphasized naturalistic plantings and informal, romantic designs. She was a proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement and its ideology of integrating the house with the garden. Her approach to garden design was heavily influenced by her artistic background, focusing on the use of color, texture, and form. She collaborated with the notable English architect Sir Edwin Lutyens on numerous projects, their partnership producing some of the most iconic gardens of the period, such as the one at Hestercombe House.

Jekyll authored several influential books on gardening, such as 'Wood and Garden' (1899) and 'Colour in the Flower Garden' (1908), which continued to shape the principles of landscape gardening well into the 20th century. Her legacy includes over 400 gardens in Europe and the United States, although many have been altered or disappeared over time. Jekyll's gardens were characterized by their vibrant plantings and meticulous planning, with each plant chosen for its contribution to the overall design.

Despite suffering from deteriorating eyesight in her later years, Jekyll continued to design gardens and write books. She also developed a close relationship with the Royal Horticultural Society and contributed many articles to their journal. Gertrude Jekyll passed away on December 8, 1932, in her home, Munstead Wood, near Godalming, Surrey. Her influence endures, and she is remembered as one of the most important figures in British horticulture and garden design, with her work continuing to inspire gardeners and designers around the world.