A Comparative Study of Thomas Jefferson?s Travels to England and Their Influences on Monticello

Abstract

Monticello, located in the city of Charlottesville, Virginia, was the estate home of the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. It is also said to be one of the finest surviving examples of the English Garden Landscape in America, while also establishing the Standard American landscape style. Thomas Jefferson manipulated the landscape in conjunction with architecture years before Frederick Law Olmsted coined the term landscape architect. Monticello was influenced in many different aspects of architecture and landscape architecture from France, England, and Italy. A detailed analysis of his one-month journey throughout England reveals the influences of each estate on his classic English landscape garden tour. In 1786, Thomas Jefferson made sixteen stops throughout the United Kingdom, and by tracing and analyzing his steps, the thesis bridges the gap that exists regarding the current verbal and visual analysis of the English influence on Monticello. These stops included, Chiswick, Hampton Court, Twickenham, Esher-Place, Claremont, Painshill, Lord Loughborough?s Woburn Farm, Caversham, Wotton, Stowe, Leasowes, Hagley, Blenheim Palace, Enfield Chase, Moor Park, and Kew. The exploration of each park, estate, or garden using satellite images, photographs, photographic manipulation, and literature searches are used to reveal the visual similarities, differences, existing landscape forms and influences of English Estates and Gardens upon Monticello. Although there have been many articles, books, theses, and lectures written on the landscape of Jefferson?s Monticello, combining these with the visual analysis performed in this thesis provides the reader with a clearer understanding of the specific English influences on Monticello.