Repton (1752 - 1818) was the leading landscape gardener of his day, a consummate salesman who presented clients with exquisitely illustrated before-and-after drawings of his proposed improvements, bound in red Morocco leather.
Repton worked with the 3rd Duke of Portland for over twenty years and produced three of his famous 'Red Books' for Welbeck.
This Red Book is from the manuscript and book collection in The Portland Collection at The Harley Gallery, on the historic Welbeck estate.
Generations of the family at Welbeck have added to the book collection, with 17th-century works collected by William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle (patron of the playwright Ben Johnson) and his brother, mathematician Sir Charles Cavendish. Later additions include books and manuscripts purchased by the great 18th-century collector and bibliophile Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford.
Find out more at www.harleygallery.co.uk
