Italian Renaissance Gardens

The renaissance was a time of amazing discovery, but also a time to rediscover much of what had been lost from previous cultures. In particular, people involved in the Italian Renaissance found a new affection for the Ancient Greeks and Ancient Romans. This affection can be seen throughout much of the work produced during this era—everything from architecture to statues to gardens.

In addition to this crucial rediscovery of ancient cultures, the Renaissance people literally expanded the world by discovering new continents and islands. Gardens soon became a way to show off the treasures of the New World and faraway lands, as the rich began to fill their gardens with plants and herbs discovered from all four corners of the globe. The sheer variety of plants was impressive, but it also allowed scientists and botanists to study plants, which fulfilled the basic desire of the times to learn more about and explain the behavior of nature.

Renaissance statue

While Renaissance gardens were academically useful, they were also beautiful pieces of art that were often designed and maintained by professional staff. These gardens were quite ornamental, and frequently contained many statues and sculptures, which were also featured prominently in Ancient Roman and Greek gardens. These statues ranged from religious to comedic, and frequently feature humans depicted in a surprisingly accurate way. Perhaps unsurprisingly the statues in the Renaissance gardens bear stunning resemblances to works from these other ancient societies, and in some cases, the statues are exact replicas.

Note the similarities between the Renaissance garden (top) and
an Ancient Roman garden (bottom)

That’s not to say that the entire garden was merely a copy of an ancient manuscript. Although scholars during this timeframe discovered, and practically worshipped, books and manuscripts from centuries gone by, the renaissance was also filled with new ideas and amazing discoveries. One of the major tenets of the time period was a rediscovery of nature, which was manifested via scientific study and a strong desire to control nature.

This desire to control nature is often seen in Renaissance gardens, and many scholars refer to this as the “third nature.” The third nature is a mix of first nature (pure, unmodified Earth) and second nature (land manipulated by humans to form farmland, fields, and towns). Obviously nature controls the environment and plant growth, but the rigid, geometrical design of the garden, as well as an obsession with a central axis, show that humans too can strongly manipulate the land. There is a constant struggle between human and nature in gardens, and also in much of Renaissance society; each attempts to control the other, with varying degrees of success.

Interestingly, many Renaissance gardens actually try to imitate the first nature by designing rock formations and grottoes, as well as conveniently placing rocks and trees to control the path of a natural stream. By imitating nature, the Renaissance man showed that not only was he able to control nature, but also that he could replicate and improve it. It was quite a powerful thought, but one that reflects strongly upon the new belief that humans were capable and rational beings that had some degree of control over their surroundings.

 

Italian Renaissance grotto 

Sources

http://www2.gwu.edu/~art/Temporary_SL/225/readings/Lazzaro_Ren_Gard_02.pdf

http://www.gardenvisit.com/history_theory/library_online_ebooks/ml_gothein_history_garden_art_design/italian_garden_history_renaissance

http://hamiltongardens.co.nz/collections/paradise-collection/italian-renaissance-garden

Pictures

http://hamiltongardens.co.nz/file/collection1/images/large/46.jpg?v=1289507737 

http://www.thecultureconcept.com/circle/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/View-Getty-Villa-from-Courtyard-Garden-with-Sculpture1.jpg 

http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/environhist/newzealand/journal/2009/dec/images/doube/fig01.jpg 

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/MFA_Juno.jpg

Importance of Religion in Roman, Medieval, and Muslim Gardens

Religion played an important part in the Roman garden, and the garden mainly served as a way to worship and dignify the gods. Most places had a “house god” that looked after the physical property and the inhabitants of the house. The garden usually contained small statues to this god, and served as a way to connect the people to their god, as well as a place to give offerings to their god. Larger roman gardens, frequently found at beautiful villas, often contained larger statues of important religious figures, like Venus, or murals, which allowed the Romans to further connect with their gods by depicting sacro-religious scenes.

Roman garden

During the medieval times, the church gained massive influence throughout the continent. Even though monks initially travelled throughout Europe with the hope of spreading religion, the church soon morphed into a powerful state. The Church began to transform, and soon demanded, under the threat of eternal damnation, that churchgoers support the church monetarily; this allowed the church to become massively powerful and rich, spreading their influence throughout the continent. The influence of the church is easily seen in the medieval gardens, where there are quite obvious allusions to the Garden of Eden. The gardens from this time period were largely cruciform, with a central fountain that led to four smaller rills, which represent the 4 rivers from Eden: the Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, and Euphrates. But perhaps even more obvious symbolism can be found in the Mary Garden, a popular concept for the medieval times, particularly the rich. This small, enclosed garden was not a place for medieval merriment, but instead a small space for quiet, spiritual reflection. The garden featured a prominent, and often central, statue of Mary, and was an escape from the hectic and dirty life of a castle or manor house. Plus, characteristic flowers, like the white lily and red rose, further symbolize the purity and innocence of Mary and the Passion of her son Jesus, respectively.

The Medieval garden- notice the        A representation of the Mary garden

simple practicality of the garden, 

as well as the raised beds

But while medieval gardens do show an allusion to religion, it is perhaps even more obvious in the Muslim gardens. Like Christianity, the Muslim religion places significant emphasis on gardens; in the afterlife, the Arabs believe, good people go to a paradise garden, similar to that of the Garden of Eden. This garden is beautiful, cool, and has plenty of colorful flowers, which is in direct contrast to the hot, dusty, and dry life of the Moorish people. Thus, most Muslim gardens were designed as a mini version of this paradise. And paradise they are. Since it is believed that all forms of beauty are a way to worship Allah, Muslim gardens are particularly beautiful and intricate. These gardens were usually centered around beautiful water features, along with colorful flowers in raised beds. Like the medieval gardens, Arabic gardens also feature a central found that feeds into four rills, although these rills represent the four rivers of life: milk, honey, water, and wine. The garden was frequently surrounded by a wall, which had paintings or tapestries or beautiful religious pictures, as well intricate calligraphy that referred to the strength and power of the Allah; this beautiful artwork also represented the dedication of the garden owner to the Almighty.

Islamic Gardens; The Alhambra is perhaps the most famous example (right)

Sources

Roman: https://www.getty.edu/visit/images/gtc_2013-07-26wald0002_sm.jpg

Medieval: http://www.gardenista.com/files/styles/733_0s/public/img/sub/uimg/02-2012/640_prieur---d-orsan-twig-raised-beds.jpg

Mary garden: http://www.catholiccompany.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/2.jpg 

Islamic: http://www.sgiquarterly.org/assets/images/Jly2008/feature/15a.jpg

 Alhambra: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-c67f7YSNIGhZih5fFW1DSU355SXb3jGxBdlQrNQ0NcpFuWhKxOlmwB28qgWs3jiDpGxivLCgNWNaTgYA9yhg5ZXP_Fuijb4HKr3IRMr0u854bGWVW3RAw9Wj8lQAJlgpHBhvRAsiqlr/s1600/alhambra-Garden.jpg 

Importance of Gardens in European Culture

While we don’t know exactly when the first gardens appeared, it is likely that they were created almost entirely for practical purposes. In ancient times, there was a critical need for food and medicine, and a small garden of crops and small plants would fulfill the basic human need for sustenance. Yet as societies became more peaceful, civilized, and technologically advanced, gardens rapidly became less of a necessity. Inventions by the Romans, especially the creation of irrigation systems, allowed for the creation of large scale farming, further increasing food availability and reducing the need to have a garden. Clearly gardens were introduced to European culture because they served a vital need to survive; but if they no longer serve an obvious practical purpose, why do we still have them?

The gardens at Versailles

It’s probably because they are beautiful. European culture places a lot of emphasis of aesthetics—from beautiful tapestries to ornate churches to huge castles, there seems to be a fundamental emphasis on beauty and ornamentation. And gardens fit right in. Take the gardens at Versailles, which features elaborate floral displays, beautiful statues, and stunning water features. The garden combines art, which has been innately attractive to humans since the beginning of time, along with the beauty of nature, like elaborate displays of flowers and trees. The end result is a piece of land that is so beautiful that you could spend days just intently browsing through the garden, never seeing the overlooking palace.

A small garden that provides a welcome escape

Stately garden at Hidcote Manor, England

            But while beauty is important, it probably isn’t the only reason that gardens play such a large role in European culture. From stately gardens in England to small displays of flowers in Italy, the appeal of a garden is clearly universal. This widespread appeal is probably related to a basic desire to feel more closely connected to nature. Much of European life and culture revolves around cities—cities like Rome and Athens have existed for thousands of years, and modern cities are bustling metropolises. But while cities are center of commerce, art, and design, they are also notoriously dirty, grey, and overcrowded. A garden, then, provides a small oasis in the middle of dirty cobblestones roads, cement buildings, and garish metal skyscrapers; a small burst of color from some flowers is a welcomed relief in an unfriendly and impersonal urban life. This personal connection to nature, even in the form of a small urban garden, really does help; scientific studies have shown that being exposed to nature, even fora short time, can lower blood pressure and reduce stress levels. Clearly, gardens provide an escape from cities and suburbia, and allow for a small connection to nature itself.

Images obtained from:

Versailles: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Versailles_Garden.jpg

Hidcote manor: http://djtravel.homestead.com/files/hidcote_manor_garden_-chipping_campden.jpg

Small garden: http://img4.myhomeideas.com/i/legacy/designassistant/1206_Sunset_privacy_l.jpg