Paul Leith: Kew Gardens: Princess of Wales Conservatory

Artist: Paul Leith
1946 -
Nationality: British
Artwork Year: 1990
Image Size: 14 by 12 inches
Overall Size: 17.625 by 12.5 inches
Medium: Water Color on Water Color Paper

Pictured is the stone pine, a Mediterranean tree with edible seeds that stands outside the Princess of Wales Conservatory, the largest glasshouse at Kew Gardens. Opened in 1987, the conservatory is a computer-controlled marvel that contains ten separate climatic zones ranging from desert to tropical rainforest. Its dedication to the Princess of Wales is quite fitting, as a Princess of Wales was one of the first royal residents of the gardens. In 1736, Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha married Frederick, Prince of Wales, and the couple settled in at Kew. Although their marriage was notoriously stormy, the royal pair adored their garden, and the Princess in particular was a notable gardener and plantswoman. Frederick and Augusta, with the guidance of their botanist friend John Stuart, third Earl of Bute, contributed a great deal to the early development of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Even after Frederick's death, Augusta, then Dowager Princess of Wales, continued to add to the gardens. She hired architect Sir William Chambers in 1760 to help decorate the landscape. Chambers' fondness for alien, fanciful buildings led him to construct an Alhambra, a Mosque, a Gothic Cathedral, a Ruined Arch, a Pagoda and an Orangery at key locations throughout the gardens. The last three of these structures remain even today, nostalgic complements to the newer building bearing the Princess' name.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the Great Britain 29p Kew Gardens 1840 - 1990 stamp issue of June 5, 1990.

Artwork Copyright © 1990 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB12453

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