the renaissance villa in italy. the age of humanism begins the renaissance was the rebirth of...

The Renaissance Villa in Italy

The Renaissance Villa in ItalyThe Renaissance Villa in Italy


The Age of Humanism BeginsThe Age of Humanism Begins

The Renaissance was the rebirth of classical humanist values and intellectual The Renaissance was the rebirth of classical humanist values and intellectual pursuits in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The changes brought on by pursuits in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The changes brought on by the new market economies and world trade in many of the European the new market economies and world trade in many of the European cultural capitals created a wealthy merchant class who supported the work cultural capitals created a wealthy merchant class who supported the work of great artisans and scientists. of great artisans and scientists.

In Italy, the Renaissance had its incubation in the province of Tuscany, a In Italy, the Renaissance had its incubation in the province of Tuscany, a region of gently rolling and verdant landscapes, with a moderately dry region of gently rolling and verdant landscapes, with a moderately dry climate and a rich agricultural heritage. It was populated by town centers climate and a rich agricultural heritage. It was populated by town centers that for centuries had been heavily fortified against foreign invasion and that for centuries had been heavily fortified against foreign invasion and frequently diminished by widespread disease. As trade increased and wars frequently diminished by widespread disease. As trade increased and wars subsided, cities such as Florence and Urbino in Tuscany and Venice and subsided, cities such as Florence and Urbino in Tuscany and Venice and Vicenza in the Veneto grew in size and stature. Vicenza in the Veneto grew in size and stature.


Art, Science, and PerceptionArt, Science, and PerceptionThe art and science of recorded The art and science of recorded observation skills and perspective observation skills and perspective rendering techniques gave rise to rendering techniques gave rise to the development of new spatial and the development of new spatial and visual perceptions, innovations and visual perceptions, innovations and theories, and the advancement of theories, and the advancement of new ideas for architectural form. new ideas for architectural form. Perspective drawings established Perspective drawings established the means of verifying design and the means of verifying design and planning speculation. This vision planning speculation. This vision was coupled with the scholarship was coupled with the scholarship broadly available in the late 15th broadly available in the late 15th Century through the invention of Century through the invention of the printing press and Gutenberg’s the printing press and Gutenberg’s movable type. Whereas Medieval movable type. Whereas Medieval times were characterized by small, times were characterized by small, incremental advances, Renaissance incremental advances, Renaissance scientists and artists made great scientists and artists made great leaps forward. leaps forward.

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Perspective SpacePerspective Space

The ability to visualize and articulate, on a planar surface, architectural space The ability to visualize and articulate, on a planar surface, architectural space with mathematical accuracy brought a technical and cerebral focus to the art with mathematical accuracy brought a technical and cerebral focus to the art of representation that had earlier relied on intuitive responses to the perceived of representation that had earlier relied on intuitive responses to the perceived world. The Roman Church, prominent as both a religious and secular power, world. The Roman Church, prominent as both a religious and secular power, set about to encourage the precise illustration of three-dimensional space as a set about to encourage the precise illustration of three-dimensional space as a way to passionately tell the narrative of the life of Christ, seducing both the way to passionately tell the narrative of the life of Christ, seducing both the lower class and the rising merchant class to the ways of the Papal leadership.lower class and the rising merchant class to the ways of the Papal leadership.

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Perspective Drawing and Perspective Drawing and Classical PrecedentsClassical Precedents

A renewed interest in the literary and visual arts of ancient Greece and Rome A renewed interest in the literary and visual arts of ancient Greece and Rome determined an architectural precedent for the forms and spaces created in this determined an architectural precedent for the forms and spaces created in this period. The art of perspective drawing led to the development of architectural period. The art of perspective drawing led to the development of architectural relationships between a site, the building plan, the elevation and section and the relationships between a site, the building plan, the elevation and section and the mass and volume of the structure.mass and volume of the structure.

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Villa Capra (La Rotunda), VicenzaVilla Capra (La Rotunda), Vicenza

A growing freedom from fear of foreign invasions allowed the urban merchant A growing freedom from fear of foreign invasions allowed the urban merchant class to pursue an interest in a landscape of agrarian productivity, Arcadian class to pursue an interest in a landscape of agrarian productivity, Arcadian philosophy, scientific studies and associations with the cosmos, and the sensual philosophy, scientific studies and associations with the cosmos, and the sensual pleasures of music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and the garden. Beyond the pleasures of music, painting, sculpture, architecture, and the garden. Beyond the city walls and moats, the retreat from urban life followed the examples of city walls and moats, the retreat from urban life followed the examples of Hadrian, Cicero and Pliny, and an ideal villa was pursued in earnest. In the Hadrian, Cicero and Pliny, and an ideal villa was pursued in earnest. In the Veneto region outside of Venice in the mid-16th Century, Andrea Palladio was Veneto region outside of Venice in the mid-16th Century, Andrea Palladio was the leading architect for a clientele that sought classical perfection in a the leading architect for a clientele that sought classical perfection in a meaningful relationship between architecture and landscapemeaningful relationship between architecture and landscape.

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Villa Barbaro (Emo), MaserVilla Barbaro (Emo), Maser

The Villa Barbaro (now called Emo for the present family ownership) was The Villa Barbaro (now called Emo for the present family ownership) was designed by Andrea Palladio for Daniel Barbaro, a wealthy Ventian merchant, designed by Andrea Palladio for Daniel Barbaro, a wealthy Ventian merchant, scientific scholar and benefactor of the fine arts. Unlike the Villa Rotunda, a scientific scholar and benefactor of the fine arts. Unlike the Villa Rotunda, a central plan building that is located on top of a knoll in a position of isolated central plan building that is located on top of a knoll in a position of isolated prominence, the Barbaro villa, even with its boldly enfronting facade, is prominence, the Barbaro villa, even with its boldly enfronting facade, is integrated into its surroundings, resolutely a part of the landscape. It gracefully integrated into its surroundings, resolutely a part of the landscape. It gracefully transitions between interior and exterior spaces with the colonnaded porch transitions between interior and exterior spaces with the colonnaded porch along its entire south face. along its entire south face.

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Painting and Landscape at Villa BarbaroPainting and Landscape at Villa BarbaroFrom the central room of the From the central room of the “piano nobile,” the second “piano nobile,” the second floor main living space, the floor main living space, the bilateral symmetry of the bilateral symmetry of the interior is carried into the axis interior is carried into the axis of the farm road that bisects of the farm road that bisects the agricultural fields so closely the agricultural fields so closely linked to the villa. The fresco linked to the villa. The fresco paintings on the interior walls, paintings on the interior walls, like those of ancient Roman like those of ancient Roman villas and palaces, represent villas and palaces, represent both the natural landscape and both the natural landscape and the ideal world of benevolent the ideal world of benevolent gods, plentiful nourishment gods, plentiful nourishment and an accommodating and an accommodating environment.environment.

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One-point Perspective One-point Perspective

One-point perspective painting was a popular graphic means of extending One-point perspective painting was a popular graphic means of extending interior space through a masterful representation of the outdoors. Walls were interior space through a masterful representation of the outdoors. Walls were painted to appear as windows with views outward, or as niches (shallow painted to appear as windows with views outward, or as niches (shallow alcoves) that held sculptures of human figures, signifying an association with alcoves) that held sculptures of human figures, signifying an association with the beautiful and the powerful in mythology and art. This ability to “fool the the beautiful and the powerful in mythology and art. This ability to “fool the eye” (the French call it “trompe l’oeil”) was often used in the Renaissance to eye” (the French call it “trompe l’oeil”) was often used in the Renaissance to accentuate distance and expand space, similar to how a long and narrow accentuate distance and expand space, similar to how a long and narrow arcade seems to propel the user into the distancearcade seems to propel the user into the distance.

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Villa Lante, Bagnaia Villa Lante, Bagnaia (1566-1578)(1566-1578)

The ideal Italian villa usually placed the residential structure in the center of The ideal Italian villa usually placed the residential structure in the center of the villa garden compound. The axis that was so often used to order the spaces the villa garden compound. The axis that was so often used to order the spaces of both buildings and gardens was often initiated in the building. At Villa of both buildings and gardens was often initiated in the building. At Villa Lante, the architect Vignola took a different tack, breaking the residence into Lante, the architect Vignola took a different tack, breaking the residence into two “casini” and emphasizing the garden in the meaningful narrative. In this two “casini” and emphasizing the garden in the meaningful narrative. In this plan, the connection between nature and human accomplishment is a clearly plan, the connection between nature and human accomplishment is a clearly legible concept articulated through a series of fountains along the axial order. legible concept articulated through a series of fountains along the axial order.

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Vignola’s DesignVignola’s DesignVignola had established his fame Vignola had established his fame as an architect of elegant as an architect of elegant country villas in a retreat he country villas in a retreat he designed for the Farnese family designed for the Farnese family in Caprarola. At the Villino in Caprarola. At the Villino Farnese, located in the hunting Farnese, located in the hunting park of the grand Villa Farnese, park of the grand Villa Farnese, he employed many references to he employed many references to the mysteries of the underworld the mysteries of the underworld and the spirits of nature that and the spirits of nature that were later used at Villa Lante. were later used at Villa Lante. Unlike the Villino Farnese which Unlike the Villino Farnese which had only a single casino as the had only a single casino as the focus of the central axis, Villa focus of the central axis, Villa Lante’s symmetrically balanced Lante’s symmetrically balanced casini frame the central axis and casini frame the central axis and give greater significance and give greater significance and attention to the garden.attention to the garden. 748

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Bagnaia and Villa LanteBagnaia and Villa LanteBagnaia, a medieval town about fifty Bagnaia, a medieval town about fifty miles north of Rome on the way to miles north of Rome on the way to Siena, was the summering place for Siena, was the summering place for the Bishop of Viterbo, a member of the Bishop of Viterbo, a member of the wealthy Gambara family. The the wealthy Gambara family. The relationship between the town of relationship between the town of Bagnaia, the Villa Lante, and the Bagnaia, the Villa Lante, and the wooded hillside is an important one. wooded hillside is an important one. The Villa’s physical position between The Villa’s physical position between the town and the hunting grounds the town and the hunting grounds sets up a dialogue that continues in sets up a dialogue that continues in every detail of the garden design. every detail of the garden design. The garden, totally walled within the The garden, totally walled within the wooded park, tumbles down the wooded park, tumbles down the slope toward the village square and slope toward the village square and accumulates the scale and character accumulates the scale and character of an artful built environment as it of an artful built environment as it descends. descends. 749

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Water at Villa LanteWater at Villa LanteThe water course that directs that The water course that directs that descent is sculpted in a variety of vessels, descent is sculpted in a variety of vessels, culminating in a grand quadripartite culminating in a grand quadripartite fountain, centrally placed on a broad, fountain, centrally placed on a broad, flat and intricately decorated plain that flat and intricately decorated plain that recalls the cultural achievement of the recalls the cultural achievement of the Islamic paradise garden. The source of Islamic paradise garden. The source of the garden’s water display is depicted as the garden’s water display is depicted as a darkly mysterious grotto, home to the a darkly mysterious grotto, home to the underground nymphs and gnomes who underground nymphs and gnomes who spirit the natural realm. On the left, spirit the natural realm. On the left, above, is an image of the mossy, dank above, is an image of the mossy, dank pool, rustically sculpted in layers of pool, rustically sculpted in layers of shade-loving plants and rugged concrete shade-loving plants and rugged concrete forms. It is located between two small, forms. It is located between two small, highly refined and proportionally highly refined and proportionally elegant pavilions (one of which is in the elegant pavilions (one of which is in the photograph on the right). photograph on the right).

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Scorpion FountainScorpion FountainThe Scorpion Fountain, or water chain, The Scorpion Fountain, or water chain, marks the axis from the upper terrace marks the axis from the upper terrace gardens, with the Fountain of Dolphins, gardens, with the Fountain of Dolphins, to the Fountain of the Giants at the to the Fountain of the Giants at the terrace that houses the Bishop’s Table terrace that houses the Bishop’s Table (see next images). This scalloped chain (see next images). This scalloped chain fountain concept is borrowed directly fountain concept is borrowed directly from the entrance ramp fountain of the from the entrance ramp fountain of the Villino Farnese, even as it introduces the Villino Farnese, even as it introduces the river gods and giants.river gods and giants.

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Bishop’s Table Bishop’s Table Located on and emphasizing the Located on and emphasizing the axis, the Bishop’s Table, a practical axis, the Bishop’s Table, a practical invention for outdoor banquets, invention for outdoor banquets, efficiently uses the flowing waters efficiently uses the flowing waters to cool the wine in the trough on to cool the wine in the trough on top of the table. At the guests’ feet, top of the table. At the guests’ feet, on both sides of the long table, on both sides of the long table, unwanted scraps of food could be unwanted scraps of food could be conveniently tossed into a narrow, conveniently tossed into a narrow, water-filled canal that carried the water-filled canal that carried the debris to the lower end where the debris to the lower end where the servants picked it up. Hidden in servants picked it up. Hidden in the stone pavement at each seat the stone pavement at each seat were small water jets that could be were small water jets that could be controlled by the host whose controlled by the host whose humor or rancor determined who humor or rancor determined who would be his object of sport or would be his object of sport or ridicule.ridicule.

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Fountains Fountains on Axison AxisOn the left, the Fountain of On the left, the Fountain of the Giants, also referred to as the Giants, also referred to as the Fountain of the River the Fountain of the River Gods, accepts the waters from Gods, accepts the waters from the Scorpion Fountain above it the Scorpion Fountain above it and transforms the water flow and transforms the water flow through a series of tiered through a series of tiered basins. From here the water basins. From here the water passes through the Bishop’s passes through the Bishop’s Table and into the concentric Table and into the concentric circles of the Fountain of circles of the Fountain of Lights. This graceful fountain, Lights. This graceful fountain, beautifully sculpted in stone, is beautifully sculpted in stone, is formed of interlocking formed of interlocking convex and concave forms that convex and concave forms that unify the upper and lower unify the upper and lower terraces.terraces.

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The ParterreThe Parterre

The brilliantly colored and intricately “embroidered” patterns of the lowest The brilliantly colored and intricately “embroidered” patterns of the lowest terrace garden before the town of Bagnaia are created from a simple palette of terrace garden before the town of Bagnaia are created from a simple palette of evergreen boxwood hedges and broken terracotta gravel. The design relies on evergreen boxwood hedges and broken terracotta gravel. The design relies on the contrast of complementary colors and the bold geometric pattern for its the contrast of complementary colors and the bold geometric pattern for its strong graphic effect. The aerial photograph demonstrates the large, open strong graphic effect. The aerial photograph demonstrates the large, open scale of the gridded garden layout and exaggerates the rational geometry of the scale of the gridded garden layout and exaggerates the rational geometry of the “parterre” with the narrow medieval street configuration of the town. “parterre” with the narrow medieval street configuration of the town.

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Plan and SectionPlan and Section

Drawing from Shepherd and Jellicoe, Italian Villas

Redrawn by Jack Sullivan


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.

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