Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown

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The name of “Capability Brown” evokes a landscape of sheep gently grazing in grassy parkland, punctuated by trees and a naturalistic lake, an image exported around the world via France as

le jardin anglais

and for which he was largely responsible. Brown was arguably the most important landscape designer in British history.

Lancelot Brown was born in Kirkharle, Northumberland in 1716 into a farming family and attended school at nearby Cambo until he was sixteen. It can be assumed he was naturally intelligent and received a good basic education since he later became adept in the various skills required of a landscaper, hydraulic engineer, architect, artist and scientist, and had the ability to converse cogently with his patrons. At sixteen he went to work for the local landowner, Sir

2477 words

Citation: Holmes, Caroline. "Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 November 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=598, accessed 19 March 2024.]

598 Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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