the renaissance in italy: villa d’este the renaissance italy: villa d’este

The Renaissance in Italy: Villa d’Este

The Renaissance Italy: The Renaissance Italy: Villa d’EsteVilla d’Este


Villa d’Este, TivoliVilla d’Este, TivoliTivoli, one of the chief centers for Tivoli, one of the chief centers for country life during the Roman country life during the Roman Empire, was the retreat of the Empire, was the retreat of the Emperor Hadrian. In the 16th Emperor Hadrian. In the 16th century, the Renaissance princes century, the Renaissance princes and church elite built their own and church elite built their own estates on the ruins of the estates on the ruins of the ancients. In 1549, Pirro Liggori, ancients. In 1549, Pirro Liggori, architect and historian, began architect and historian, began work on a villa for Cardinal work on a villa for Cardinal Ippolito d’Este. By diverting part Ippolito d’Este. By diverting part of the River Aniene to the top of of the River Aniene to the top of the villa and drawing on the the villa and drawing on the gravitational pull of the steep site, gravitational pull of the steep site, an elaborate display of fountains an elaborate display of fountains and pools were created as and pools were created as symbolic and aesthetic objects of symbolic and aesthetic objects of meaning and function. meaning and function. 762

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Plan of Villa d’EstePlan of Villa d’EsteThe plan of the Villa d’Este is a The plan of the Villa d’Este is a regimented grid laid over a steep regimented grid laid over a steep terrain on a north-facing slope. The terrain on a north-facing slope. The casino is a large structure that boldly casino is a large structure that boldly fronts the landscape yet is easily lost fronts the landscape yet is easily lost from view as the garden visitor ambles from view as the garden visitor ambles through the pleasure grounds. The through the pleasure grounds. The architectonic terraces emanate from architectonic terraces emanate from the building and rest perpendicular to the building and rest perpendicular to the main garden axis. The garden is the main garden axis. The garden is structured around this main axis and structured around this main axis and several subordinate axes, including several subordinate axes, including the major cross-axis that is the major cross-axis that is characterized by the fish ponds on the characterized by the fish ponds on the broad, flat terrace that terminates at broad, flat terrace that terminates at the eastern end with the grand Water the eastern end with the grand Water Organ. Organ. 764

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100 Fountains100 FountainsThe Terrace of the Hundred The Terrace of the Hundred Fountains is a wonderful show Fountains is a wonderful show of engineering accomplishment of engineering accomplishment and sculptural beauty. The and sculptural beauty. The repeated use of artful relics, repeated use of artful relics, part of Pirro Ligorio’s attempt part of Pirro Ligorio’s attempt to incorporate ancient artifacts to incorporate ancient artifacts with the garden design, were with the garden design, were plumbed to distribute the water plumbed to distribute the water flow evenly throughout the long, flow evenly throughout the long, rhythmic corridor. The seat-rhythmic corridor. The seat-height wall at the base of the height wall at the base of the fountain invites the visitor to sit fountain invites the visitor to sit at the water’s edge and enjoy at the water’s edge and enjoy the coolness of the spray. The the coolness of the spray. The result is a mesmerizing visual, result is a mesmerizing visual, audible, and tangible event in audible, and tangible event in the landscape.the landscape. 770

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Details of the Hundred FountainsDetails of the Hundred Fountains

Some of the fountain sculptures are quite playful, lending an air of whimsical Some of the fountain sculptures are quite playful, lending an air of whimsical humor to what might have become a very serious endeavor. The ship (left, humor to what might have become a very serious endeavor. The ship (left, covered in moss) has a spray of water for its sails, looking like a small toy that covered in moss) has a spray of water for its sails, looking like a small toy that was left behind by a preoccupied child. The mask on the right is a stone was left behind by a preoccupied child. The mask on the right is a stone carving from the 2nd century, unearthed in the excavations made on or near carving from the 2nd century, unearthed in the excavations made on or near the site. The music that is made by the hundred fountains is a dance to an the site. The music that is made by the hundred fountains is a dance to an allegro movement.allegro movement.

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Fountain of ArethusaFountain of ArethusaAt the eastern end of the Terrace of the At the eastern end of the Terrace of the Hundred Fountains is the Fountain of Hundred Fountains is the Fountain of Arethusa, a symbolic representation of Arethusa, a symbolic representation of the simple life in the hills that surround the simple life in the hills that surround Tivoli. The semi-circular enclosure tucks Tivoli. The semi-circular enclosure tucks the fountain away in a protected, grotto-the fountain away in a protected, grotto-like area.like area.

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The Rome FountainThe Rome FountainOpposite the “Tivoli” fountain, on the Opposite the “Tivoli” fountain, on the west edge of the site, is the “Rome” west edge of the site, is the “Rome” fountain, a miniature interpretation of fountain, a miniature interpretation of the urban complexity and rich variety the urban complexity and rich variety of the ancient city, paying homage to of the ancient city, paying homage to its historic value and intellectual its historic value and intellectual superiority while contrasting a more superiority while contrasting a more gentile life at the villa. gentile life at the villa.

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The The Dragon Dragon FountainFountain

The Dragon Fountain, located on the main axis that is perpendicular to the The Dragon Fountain, located on the main axis that is perpendicular to the palace, is directly below the Terrace of the Hundred Fountains. The forceful palace, is directly below the Terrace of the Hundred Fountains. The forceful jet from the center of the dragon sculpture interrupts the view over the jet from the center of the dragon sculpture interrupts the view over the fountain to the gardens below. fountain to the gardens below.

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The The Dragon Dragon Fountain Fountain StairStair

The descending double stair that flows around the central fountain is The descending double stair that flows around the central fountain is punctuated by a series of fountain jets located in the stair balustrade. The punctuated by a series of fountain jets located in the stair balustrade. The spray of each jet meets the other at the same elevation, at a point directly spray of each jet meets the other at the same elevation, at a point directly above the dragon sculpture. For a system that uses only the force of gravity above the dragon sculpture. For a system that uses only the force of gravity and the hydraulic technology of varying pipe sizes, this is an incredible feat of and the hydraulic technology of varying pipe sizes, this is an incredible feat of engineering and artistry.engineering and artistry.

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The Charm of the Dragon FountainThe Charm of the Dragon Fountain

Even without a complete understanding of the complex hydraulic engineering Even without a complete understanding of the complex hydraulic engineering enlisted for the water display, the garden visitor can readily appreciate the enlisted for the water display, the garden visitor can readily appreciate the beauty of the Dragon Fountain, its graceful form and the atmosphere of beauty of the Dragon Fountain, its graceful form and the atmosphere of serenity that it generates.serenity that it generates.

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AbundanceAbundanceItaly, the abundantly generous provider and Italy, the abundantly generous provider and nurturing “Mother” is represented in this nurturing “Mother” is represented in this fountain that playfully expresses the over- fountain that playfully expresses the over- flowing fullness of a richly endowed land. flowing fullness of a richly endowed land. The notion of Italy as a country bestowed The notion of Italy as a country bestowed with great natural wealth is a theme that was with great natural wealth is a theme that was common in the Renaissance. Diana, goddess common in the Renaissance. Diana, goddess of the hunt, was also a figure that of the hunt, was also a figure that represented fertility and productivity. Her represented fertility and productivity. Her image, just as it had been used in the pagan image, just as it had been used in the pagan worship of deities in the first and second worship of deities in the first and second centuries, is accepted in this, the garden of centuries, is accepted in this, the garden of the Cardinal d’Este, as a venerable figure. In the Cardinal d’Este, as a venerable figure. In Granada, Spain, the Moors bent the rules of Granada, Spain, the Moors bent the rules of the Quran to allow images of animals into the the Quran to allow images of animals into the garden; here, too, a few rules have been garden; here, too, a few rules have been broken for the intellectual benefit of a broken for the intellectual benefit of a privileged few.privileged few.

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Grotto FountainGrotto FountainAt the western terminus of the At the western terminus of the cross-axis terrace that is the base cross-axis terrace that is the base of the Dragon Fountain, yet of the Dragon Fountain, yet another magnificent and very another magnificent and very different fountain captures the different fountain captures the visitor’s attention. This Grotto visitor’s attention. This Grotto Fountain, adjacent to the Roman Fountain, adjacent to the Roman miniature fountain, has been miniature fountain, has been styled with mosaic tiles and pebble styled with mosaic tiles and pebble stones to present a somewhat stones to present a somewhat abstractly rustic image, emulating abstractly rustic image, emulating the natural niche forms and the natural niche forms and vegetation found in the wilds of vegetation found in the wilds of the mountain woodlands. Like a the mountain woodlands. Like a small temple along a sacred way, small temple along a sacred way, this fountain is a stop on the ritual this fountain is a stop on the ritual ambulatory and pilgrimage that ambulatory and pilgrimage that makes the garden experience so makes the garden experience so unique.unique.

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The Water OrganThe Water Organ

One of the most dynamic fountains of the gardens at the Villa d’Este is the One of the most dynamic fountains of the gardens at the Villa d’Este is the Water Organ. Located near the lowest of the terraces, this fountain is a Water Organ. Located near the lowest of the terraces, this fountain is a dramatic display of visual and audible force, a musical and sculptural dramatic display of visual and audible force, a musical and sculptural crescendo in a garden composition that never ceases to surprise and amaze crescendo in a garden composition that never ceases to surprise and amaze the participant. The fountain is tucked up against the eastern slope, where the participant. The fountain is tucked up against the eastern slope, where terraces step above the rushing cascade like a mountain landscape seen from terraces step above the rushing cascade like a mountain landscape seen from below. below.

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Fish Ponds at the Organ FountainFish Ponds at the Organ Fountain

The three Fish Ponds, placid two-dimension mirrors on the level ground, The three Fish Ponds, placid two-dimension mirrors on the level ground, offer a striking contrasting and passive foreground to the [some might say offer a striking contrasting and passive foreground to the [some might say vulgar] theatrical demonstration of the Water Organ. The Water Organ vulgar] theatrical demonstration of the Water Organ. The Water Organ roars for the observer’s attention in a garden that hardly requires such roars for the observer’s attention in a garden that hardly requires such aggressive behavior to capture the imagination. But like the music that was aggressive behavior to capture the imagination. But like the music that was soon to develop, especially in Italy, dramatic, forceful and abrupt change soon to develop, especially in Italy, dramatic, forceful and abrupt change follows the adagio movements that characterize the spaces between fountains. follows the adagio movements that characterize the spaces between fountains.

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The PlanThe Plan

Drawing by Mark Pappalardi

Casino

Water Organ

Rome fountain

Tivoli fountain


ResourcesResources

Jellicoe, Geoffrey and Susan. The Landscape of Man: Shaping the Jellicoe, Geoffrey and Susan. The Landscape of Man: Shaping the Environment from Prehistory to the Present Day. The Viking Press: New Environment from Prehistory to the Present Day. The Viking Press: New York, 1975.York, 1975.

Newton, Norman T. Design on the Land: The Development of Landscape Newton, Norman T. Design on the Land: The Development of Landscape Architecture. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1971.Architecture. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1971.

Moore, Charles W., William J. Mitchell, and William Turnbull, Jr. The Moore, Charles W., William J. Mitchell, and William Turnbull, Jr. The Poetics of Gardens. The MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1988.Poetics of Gardens. The MIT Press: Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1988.

the renaissance in italy: villa d’este the renaissance italy: villa d’este

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villa destedetails

renaissance princes

ewnthe renaissance

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tivoli fountain

fountain sculptures

main garden axis

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