GRACE AND FAVOUR

Placed in the garden, a sculpture invites us to pause and appreciate both its beauty and that of the backdrop around it

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Great garden sculptures look truly at home in the surrounding landscape-they have earned their place as much as any ancient tree or well-established planting scheme. At their best, sculptures lend scale and context to their natural backdrop, inspiring awe and inviting us to pause a moment as we pass through our outdoor rooms.

Placing sculptural elements and objects as a statement, story or eye-catcher in nature has long played a part in the relationship between people and places. Whether you love traditional, larger-than-life historical figures, sundials, or found objects, garden art is personal, often provocative and polarising. One way or another, it enriches the way we experience outdoor spaces. Whether it’s a statue we see every day from the kitchen or a more secluded piece that we visit intentionally, choosing the right sculpture for our gardens is an art in itself.

A BRIEF HISTORY

Garden statues started out as the preserve of the landowning elite who were heavily influenced by Ancient Greece and Rome. Often placed as focal points on long avenues or terraces, large stone statues of classical deities such as Hercules and Pan were intended to be imposing. They sent a clear message to visitors; they were statements of power, wealth and political allegiances.