In recent years the history of the garden has enjoyed increased attention within scholarly circles. Of particular interest is the history of the formation of the Picturesque garden. The ideas of three men, Richard Payne Knight, Uvedale Price, and Humphry Repton, are central to the evolution of Picturesque theory as related to the garden. The conflict among them has become known as the Picturesque Controversy. Due to misguided interpretations by modern scholars, however, the essence of the dispute has been obscured. Through a discussion of the development of Picturesque theory and a comparison of the actual points of difference between the above mentioned theorists, this paper proposes to expose the essential elements of the debate. It also demonstrates that, while all three participants are attempting to reach beyond the practices of their own century, it is Humphry Repton who distinguishes himself as the true herald of modern society and its attitude toward the garden.

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