This is one of a set of five oil paintings commissioned by Princess Augusta to record the appearance of the gardens at Kew designed in the new ‘landscape garden’ style by William Kent and William Chambers. Fountains, circular basins and canals have been replaced by meandering waters. Symmetry, topiary and straight lines have disappeared in favour of softly sloping hills and natural planting schemes. Only the presence of the gardeners in the foreground hint at man’s intervention in this rustic landscape.