This life-size portrait of Olmsted, painted on-site by John Singer Sargent, can be seen on the second floor of the Biltmore House.
Vanderbilt’s visionary: Olmsted designed a mix of formal gardens and naturalistic spaces at the estate.
“This is to be a private work of very public interest in many ways. Of much greater public interest ... than we can define to ourselves.” —Frederick Law Olmsted
Top, the poor initial state of the land can be seen in this photo of a work crew, with Olmsted, front right in a bowler hat, standing next to Vanderbilt, with cane.
Man with a plan: By the time Olmsted’s firm produced this 1896 map of the estate, the major elements of his design, including the approach road, were largely complete
Biltmore blooms: The 15-acre Azalea Garden, the largest garden on the estate, was designed by Olmsted and cultivated by famed horticulturalist Chauncey Beadle.
Peaceful places: The Garden Terrace, aka the Italian Garden, is rich with aquatic plantings and statuary features, and also served as the Vanderbilts’ croquet court.
Olmsted’s road plans incorporated several bridges, including this iconic brick one over the Bass Pond.
Natural selections: Olmsted specified that the Bass Pond should have a rustic bridge and boathouse as well as islets, both for aesthetic reasons and to attract waterfowl.
Final designs Olmsted’s work at Biltmore became something of a race against time as his mind began to slip during his later years.
