Claude Lorrain's Seaport shows 'London as it might have been' in Jane Loudon's dream

In Landscape into Art, (1949) Kenneth Clark wrote of 'the most enchanting dream which has ever consoled mankind, the myth of a Golden Age in which man lived on the fruits of the earth, peacefully, piously, and with primitive simplicity'.

Jane Webb Loudon, apparently, anticipated him in her 'strange, wild novel', published in 1827: 'Thus lost in meditation, I walked onwards till I reached the brow of a hill, and a superb prospect burst upon me. A fertile valley richly wooded, studded with sumptuous villas and romantic cottages. They were watered by a noble river that slowly wound its lazy course, spread beneath my feet. Lofty hills, swelling to the skies, their summits lost in the clouds, bounded the horizon. The sun was setting in all its splendour, and its lingering rays gave glowing tints and deep masses of shadow to the landscape, sometimes producing magical effects.  It was quite a Claude Lorrain scene and, the more fully to enjoy it, I entered a hay-field and seated myself upon a grassy bank. A delicious stillness crept over my senses, and the heaving chaos of my ideas was lulled to repose. A majestic oak stretched its gnarled arms in sullen dignity above my head. Woodbines and wild roses hung from every hedge, mingling their perfume with that of the new-mown hay.  I reclined languidly on my grassy couch, feeling that delightful sense of exemption from care that a faint murmur of bustle afar off gives to the weary spirit.  Suddenly the bells struck up a joyous peal. I listened with delight to their melody, till their softness seemed to increase. The sounds became gradually fainter and fainter. The landscape faded from my sight. A soft languor crept over me. I dozed.'

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'It has often been said that the anticipation of pleasure is always greater than the reality: this, however, was not the case in the present instance, as the brilliancy of Lord Edmund's triumph was far greater than even the imagina-. tions of the spectators had before dared to conceive. The duke and Sir Ambrose, attended by Father Morris, found the individuals who were to compose the procession of the Queen assembled in the extensive gardens belonging to the superb palace of Somerset House. These fine gardens, spreading their verdant groves along the banks of the river, adorned by all the charms of nature and art, and enriched by some of the finest specimens of sculpture in the world, were now crowded with all the beauty and rank of England, who, waiting for the arrival of their Sovereign, formed an ensemble no other nation in the world could hope to imitate.'

Tom Turner wrote that: 'After reading the first volume, Mr Loudon went to his study and wrote a review. It was sent to Mr Bentham with a note about why his brother might also find the book of interest: extravagant and impracticable ideas can aid the formation of new and useful combinations. Scientific invention and intellectual improvement should be pushed to extremes.' The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith, Claudius Loudon, Claudius Buchanan.  Amazon Kindle (December 2024).