"George III was an ambitious patron of both the sciences and the arts. In this ground-breaking new survey David Watkin looks closely at the King's contribution to the area that interested him most deeply - architectural design. George III's lifelong involvement in building and landscaping is placed in the context of his keen support for manufacturing, the scientific revolution and agricultural innovation, all of which were characteristic concerns of the Age of Improvement. Furthermore, taking into account the latest research into the role of the court in the political and cultural life of Europe before the French Revolution, Professor Watkin looks afresh at the significance of the King's position within the Holy Roman Empire." "The broad, interdisciplinary approach of Professor Watkin's wide-ranging text suggests new lines of enquiry for historians of architecture and art and offers valuable insights for student of landscape design, court studies and political history."--Jacket.