The Politics of Landscapes

William Kent's buildings inspired much comment, with the Hermitage being the most praised and Merlin's Cave proving the most contentious. Alexander Pope, in the 1730s, mocked: "Every man, and every boy, is writing verses on the Royal Hermitage". This comment was made in response to competitions sponsored by the 'Gentleman's Magazine' in both 1732 and 1733 for the best poem acclaiming "Her Majesty's Grotto at Richmond".

Such was the political nature of gardening in the 18th century that Caroline's gardening, Merlin's Cave in particular, became entwined in controversy. "Fog's Weekly Journal" for 6th December 1735, commented that Merlin's Cave was "Hieorglyphical [sic], Emblematical, Typical and Symbolical, conveying messages of Policy to Princes and Ministers of State". Many political jokes were made about Kent's buildings and when Caroline complained about this to George II , he famously replied "I am very glad of it ... you deserve to be abused for such childish silly stuff".

Perhaps the adverse comments were only to be expected. Inspired by the 'fête-gallant' pastoral paintings of Watteau, Caroline had invited her court to "Watteau's world of picnics, minuets, coquetries and masquerades in the Richmond Gardens". This romanticism amused the Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, who "delighted in the absurdity of the idea of the court and people of rank and fashion playing Watteau's game", and called it "a kind of impossible pastoral, a rural life led by those opposites of rural simplicity". What is more, it was led in full view of the public walking the Thames tow path.

Caroline's attitude to the political insinuations drawn from her pastoral activities is reflected in her comment to her husband. But was this naiveté on her part, or turning a deliberate blind eye to the political connotations of her garden and her 'fete gallantes'? As she received secretive transfers of money from the King's purse to her own, made by Walpole, she cannot have been in total ignorance of the relationship between the State and her garden. When Caroline died (1737) she left debts amounting to £20,000, most of which were accrued through her activities at Richmond and Kensington Palace.

Back to: 1700-1772: Two Royal Gardens