Today he is almost forgotten. But in Victorian England, George Samuel Elgood was one of the leading garden painters of his time. An enthusiastic and experienced gardener himself, he lived out his passion for all things blooming and thriving in his delicate watercolors. His paintings are so detailed that the viewer has the feeling that he is walking in them as in a garden and can even perceive the scent of the roses and the rustling of the leaves.
Elgood was born into a large family, he had eleven siblings. Nevertheless, his father, a textile manufacturer, was able to enable him to study at the Royal College of Art. There he took drawing courses in architecture, but even then he devoted himself to the beauties of English landscape gardens in small drawings. When his father died unexpectedly in 1874, the young George had to give up his studies and take over the management of the family business instead. He could only pursue his art in his rare free time. But he did so with great dedication and success. A first exhibition of his works at the Walker Gallery in Liverpool was soon followed by others.
In his late 20s, he met Mary Clephan, who shared his love of art. A good basis for a marriage, especially since Mary also brought a considerable fortune. The windfall enabled George to leave the family business and instead travel around Europe with Mary and paint. During this time, he produced numerous paintings of Renaissance gardens, especially in Italy. To add a touch of extra nostalgia and authenticity to his works, he also often placed figures in 18th century garb in the scenery. His wife served as a model for him. The works created during his travels were exhibited many times and received enthusiastic critical acclaim. Even the Queen is said to have taken a liking to the paintings. In any case, the palace telegraphed that Elgood might reserve one of the paintings for Her Majesty's private collection. George Samuel Elgood's fame was not only due to his paintings. Rather, he became even more famous for his book illustrations. His greatest success came in 1904, when Gertrude Jekyll's book "Some English Gardens" was published with 50 of his watercolor illustrations. Numerous other commissions for garden books were to follow.
As much as he loved nature, he disliked company. He attached great importance to his privacy. Thus, although he often painted his own garden in Markfield, Leicestershire. But he titled the pictures with fantasy names so that no one would find out where the garden depicted was actually located and possibly even visit it. He also hated changes so much that he chased away the gardener who wanted to cut the trees next door with a shotgun. When his wife died in 1925, Elgood nevertheless had to accept that his niece moved in with him to look after things. But she could not persuade him to have running water and electricity in the house.
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.jpg "Isola dei Pescatori, Lago Maggiore by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485362).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Lante in Bagnaja by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Anthemis, Poppies and Larkspur by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Pool, Bramham by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Raundscliffe - Everywhere are Roses by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Rose Garden, Balcaskie by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Mynthurst by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Summer Garden with a Peacock by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Penshurst, the Terrace Steps by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Brickwall, Northiam by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Auchincruive by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1500414).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Cascade, Villa Cicogna by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1500414).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648183).jpg "Speke Hall, Lancashire by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Yew Arches, Murthly Castle, Perthshire by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1650048).jpg "Everywhere are roses, roses by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1509850).jpg "Italian Gardens: Upper Terrace, Villa Corsini by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1509850).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648234).jpg "Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648234).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1494403).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Colonna by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1494403).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1506899).jpg "Italian Gardens: China Roses, Villa Imperiali by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1506899).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485376).jpg "Italian Gardens: Forecourt, Villa Borghese by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485376).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502538).jpg "Italian Gardens: Florence from the Villa Palmieri by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502538).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1499704).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Parterre, Villa Garzoni by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1499704).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1500027).jpg "Italian Gardens: Wistaria, Villa Cavagnaro by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Anne Hathaway")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485364).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Palmieri, Flora and Pomona by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Upper Terrace, Villa Imperiale, Genoa by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1503130).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Garden Gate, Villa di Caniparola by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Belvedere, Villa Piatti, Rome by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Gardens of the Manor House, Cleeve Prior, Worcestershire by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648853).jpg "A Noble Fountain by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "China Roses, Villa Imperiali, Genoa by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485365).jpg "Italian Gardens: Il Laghetto, Villa Falconieri by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648200).jpg "Roses and Iris by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648200).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1649719).jpg "Peach, Plum, and Pear-blossom by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1649719).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502902).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Piatti by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502902).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1494399).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Cavagnaro, The Parterre by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1494399).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485361).jpg "Italian Gardens: Head of the Great Stair, Villa Garzoni by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485361).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485400).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Aviary, Villa Borghese by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Forecourt, Great Tangley Manor, Surrey, from The Gardens of England: In the Southern and Western Counties Published by The Studio, 1907 by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648854).jpg "Larkspurs by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648854).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485360).jpg "Italian Gardens: A Florentine Terrace by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485360).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1504261).jpg "Italian Gardens: Fountain in the Bosco, Villa Conti by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Michaelmas Daisies, Munstead Wood by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Cleeve Prior, Sunflowers, illustration in")
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.jpg "And out of a valley of grape and grain there blossoms a City of domes and towers by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1501539).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Parterre, Villa Colonna (colour litho) by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Yew Arbour, Polhill by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Terrace at Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire, 1887 by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502898).jpg "Italian Gardens: Giuoco dell")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502898).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1649524).jpg "The Forecourt, Great Tangley Manor, Surrey by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1649524).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1510527).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Dragon Fountain, Villa Mondragone by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1510527).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1485363).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Great Fountain, Villa Conti by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Evening Primroses, Swinford Manor by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Cleve Prior: Sunflowers by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Stone Hall, Easton, the Friendship Garden by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Cleeve Prior, Sunflowers by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1500430).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Amari, The Fountain by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1500430).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1505663).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Arson, Fountain of Venus by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1505663).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648235).jpg "The Dark Arbour at Melbourne Hall, Derbyshire by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Alcove, Arley by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Yew Arch at Brickwall, Sussex, from The Gardens of England: In the Southern and Western Counties Published by The Studio, 1907 by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Phlox by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502191).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Aldobrandini, Fountain in the Parterre by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502191).jpg)
.jpg "The Pergola, Great Tangley by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Cleeve Prior, Sunflowers, illustration in")
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.jpg "Flora and Pomona, Villa Arson, Nice by George Samuel Elgood")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-236006).jpg "Barncluith, Lanarkshire, 1900 by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1510153).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Lower Terrace, Villa Imperiali by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1510153).jpg)
.jpg "The Forecourt, Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Bulwick, the Gateway by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1510368).jpg "Italian Gardens: The Dragon Gateway, Villa Garzoni by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1510368).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1494398).jpg "Italian Gardens: A Stairway, Villa Arson by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1494398).jpg)
.jpg "The Rose Garden, Arley by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1503599).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Borghese, The Sea-Horse Fountain by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1503599).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1502245).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Conti by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Roundscliffe, a garden in Leicestershire, 1907 by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1649720).jpg "Through the Olives, Florence by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648969).jpg "Between the mountains and the sea by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1501202).jpg "Italian Gardens: La Vasca dell")
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.jpg "Brockenhurst, the Garden Gate by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Compton Wynyates by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Doorway, Knockwood, Kent by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Barncluith, Lanarkshire by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Chateau de la Cour, Rhone Valley by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648332).jpg "The Lake at Bramham Park, Yorkshire by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648332).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1509749).jpg "Italian Gardens: In the Bosco, Villa Corsini by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1509749).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1503978).jpg "Italian Gardens: Terminal Statues, Villa Piatti by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1503978).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1649234).jpg "The Dial at Raunscliffe, Leicestershire by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Levens by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Montacute, Sunflowers by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Blyborough, Hollyhocks by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648852).jpg "Baveno and Isola Pescatori, Lago Maggiore by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648852).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1649041).jpg "Pear-blossom, Maritime Alps by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1649041).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1494397).jpg "Italian Gardens: Villa Cicogna, Below the Cascade by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1494397).jpg)
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648217).jpg "Yew Arch at Brickwall, Sussex by George Samuel Elgood")
_-_(MeisterDrucke-1648217).jpg)
.jpg "Compton Wynyates, Warwickshire by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "The Forecourt, Hardwick by George Samuel Elgood")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1499627).jpg "Italian Gardens: La Badia, Forecourt of the Monastery by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "An Italian Garden by George Samuel Elgood")
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.jpg "Garden Overlooking the Duomo, Florence by George Samuel Elgood")
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