Ignatz Anton Pilát (June 27, 1820 – September 17, 1870) was an Austrian-born gardener who migrated to the United States to work on the design and planting of New York City's Central Park.
Ignatz Anton Pilát
Born
(1820-06-27)June 27, 1820
Died
September 17, 1870(1870-09-17) (aged 50)
Nationality
Austrian
Occupation(s)
Landscape architect, gardener
Known for
Contributing to the original flora design of Central Park, and his redesign of Washington Square Park
Pilát was born on June 27, 1820 in St. Agatha, Upper Austria. After studying botany at the University of Vienna, he obtained a position at the Imperial Botanical Gardens of the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, where he acquired technical skills and participated in a botanical survey of the site. Later he was a gardener in Venice, which he fled during the political troubles of 1848.
Pilát submitted an unofficial entry to the competition for design of Central Park. This gained him the attention of Frederick Law Olmsted, who called him to New York as foreman of the gardeners. In 1863, this industrious and modest man rose to be Chief Gardener and Superintendent of the park, a position he retained for the rest of his life.
Although the overall plans of Central Park were prepared by the architects, Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, credit has been given to Ignatz Pilát for the choice of plants, their distribution, and the detailed landscaping of the park. The much admired landscaped vistas owed their design to his knowledge and use of a wide variety of plants. Pilát’s characteristic style is found in many areas of the park.
About 1870 Pilát, redesigned Washington Square Park in New York, which at that time was laid out as a military parade ground. Influenced by Frederick Law Olmsted, Pilát introduced more curvilinear paths to soften the military-straight lines of the old parade ground.
Pilát is the uncle of Carl Francis Pilat, (1876-1933), who was a landscape architect for New York City parks.
Pilát died of consumption at his home in New York on September 17, 1870, leaving "a wife and several children very poorly provided for".[1]
Austrian Information, Central Park Project, Austrian Press and Information Service, Washington, D.C. July–August 2004.
Rybczynski, Witold. A Clearing in the Distance: Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the 19th Century. Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, 1999, p. 176.
Reports from the Field, June 9, 2009
Further reading
, published in Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 134(4), 2007, pp. 552–569
ignatz, anton, pilát, june, 1820, september, 1870, austrian, born, gardener, migrated, united, states, work, design, planting, york, city, central, park, born, 1820, june, 1820diedseptember, 1870, 1870, aged, nationalityaustrianoccupation, landscape, architect. Ignatz Anton Pilat June 27 1820 September 17 1870 was an Austrian born gardener who migrated to the United States to work on the design and planting of New York City s Central Park Ignatz Anton PilatBorn 1820 06 27 June 27 1820DiedSeptember 17 1870 1870 09 17 aged 50 NationalityAustrianOccupation s Landscape architect gardenerKnown forContributing to the original flora design of Central Park and his redesign of Washington Square ParkPilat was born on June 27 1820 in St Agatha Upper Austria After studying botany at the University of Vienna he obtained a position at the Imperial Botanical Gardens of the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna where he acquired technical skills and participated in a botanical survey of the site Later he was a gardener in Venice which he fled during the political troubles of 1848 Pilat submitted an unofficial entry to the competition for design of Central Park This gained him the attention of Frederick Law Olmsted who called him to New York as foreman of the gardeners In 1863 this industrious and modest man rose to be Chief Gardener and Superintendent of the park a position he retained for the rest of his life Although the overall plans of Central Park were prepared by the architects Olmsted and Calvert Vaux credit has been given to Ignatz Pilat for the choice of plants their distribution and the detailed landscaping of the park The much admired landscaped vistas owed their design to his knowledge and use of a wide variety of plants Pilat s characteristic style is found in many areas of the park About 1870 Pilat redesigned Washington Square Park in New York which at that time was laid out as a military parade ground Influenced by Frederick Law Olmsted Pilat introduced more curvilinear paths to soften the military straight lines of the old parade ground Pilat is the uncle of Carl Francis Pilat 1876 1933 who was a landscape architect for New York City parks Pilat died of consumption at his home in New York on September 17 1870 leaving a wife and several children very poorly provided for 1 The standard author abbreviation I A Pilat is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name 2 References Edit Obituary of Ignaz A Pilat New York Times September 20 1870 International Plant Names Index I A Pilat Austrian Information Central Park Project Austrian Press and Information Service Washington D C July August 2004 Rybczynski Witold A Clearing in the Distance Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the 19th Century Simon amp Schuster Adult Publishing Group 1999 p 176 Frassica Matt The Many Faces of Washington Square Park Reports from the Field June 9 2009Further reading EditThe naturally occurring historical and extant flora of Central Park New York City New York 1857 2007 published in Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 134 4 2007 pp 552 569External links EditWorks by or about Ignatz Anton Pilat at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ignatz Anton Pilat amp oldid 1132467222, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
