A piece of sculpture enhances a garden in several ways. Firstly, it acts as a focal point, closing your line of sight down a path or an avenue or drawing attention to a view.
Secondly, it arouses an emotional or an intellectual response, triggering a memory of a long-forgotten myth, or reminding you of the story of its creator.
Finally it stands alone as a work of art, to be enjoyed at a purely aesthetic level, regardless of its surroundings or associations.
Earlier this year Bill and I visited an early 20th-century garden in Stockholm, created as a traditional garden but also as a setting for a magnificent collection of sculptures.
Prince Eugen of Sweden and Norway (1865-1947) was the youngest son of King Oscar II and Queen Sophia. He showed artistic promise from an early age and grew up to become a renowned landscape painter, art patron and discerning art collector.
For his home he chose a seven hectare site of open woodland, surrounded on three sides by water that provided – at least by chilly Scandinavian standards – a temperate climate ideal for garden making. It included rock formations, sandy areas and fine deciduous trees.
Here he painted, collected art and gardened for the rest of his life. He never married and bequeathed his splendid mansion, art gallery and collection to the Swedish state. Waldemar Sudde is now a museum open to the public year round for a modest fee.
Waldemar Sudde is a thrilling example of how well-placed sculpture adds layers of meaning and enjoyment to a garden.
Entry is a walk through a wildflower meadow, which in July was awash with foamy drifts of meadowsweet (Filependula), goats rue (Aruncus) and snow white astilbes sparked by swathes of purplish red martagon lilies.
The park-like feel was retained by the prince to the north of the house, with open areas suited to the display of sculpture. However he also loved flowers – “After art, I think flowers are my greatest joy,” he wrote to a friend in 1901 – and so he made two terraces on the south side of the house overlooking Stockholm harbour, for a formal flower garden.
I too love flowers, but Waldemar Sudde is a thrilling example of how well-placed sculpture adds layers of meaning and enjoyment to a garden.
Highlights were August Rodin’s iconic The Thinker, Antoine Bourdelle’s Heracles, drawing his bow to perform of one of his 12 labours, and Swedish sculptor Carl Milles’ Archer.
I also admired an armillary sphere sundial, though its position atop a two-metre antique column was a bit of a puzzle.
Waldemar Sudde (www.waldemarsudde.se/in-english/) is 25 minutes by No. 7 tram from Stockholm city centre. The museum includes an art gallery, park and garden. The original kitchen is now a restaurant and there is also a café in the garden.
Choose your own sculpture this weekend at Sculptures in the Garden, Mudgee. Rosby, Strikes Lane, Eurunderee, open October 8 and 9, 9am-4pm, $5, children free. Sculptures for sale by national and regional artists, guided tours, discussion panel, catering by Mudgee Support Group Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. Opening Edmund Capon, 11am, October 8. Phone Amber Norton-Knight, 0414 942 917, email amber@rosby.com.au or go to www.sculpturesinthegarden.com.au/
