The “rediscovery” of the classics and new Humanist ways of
thinking were expressed in the design of the Italian Renaissance in a beautiful
and influential way. The Italian Renaissance garden was really able to fully
encompass the Renaissance spirit. Some of the most important aspects of
Renaissance thinking were expressed in these gardens. The renaissance was
defined by a shift from inward thinking to a drive to understand and question
the world in a broader and more conclusive way. Humanism, religion, science, nature,
architecture, physics and of course, the Greek Classics, were all part of the Renaissance
and all present in various aspects of the Italian Renaissance gardens.
The Italian Renaissance gardens spanned large areas and were an
integral part of the architecture of the Villas that they were built with.
These differed greatly from the Hortus Conclusus which were small inward
looking gardens in Medieval castles. The Italian Renaissance gardens had
beautiful water features that required a great knowledge of hydraulics and the
manipulation of the land in order for the water to flow where it was wanted. A
water organ was in the garden at Villa D’Este which was powered by hydraulics
which provided music for anyone in the garden.
I think this is the epitome of
the Renaissance because the nice music was playing it was done in a way that
had science behind it. The revival of Greek classics in Italy brought about
this idea of Humanism. Humanism didn’t replace or reject religion but it was
characterized by questioning. The writings of Pliny and his villa also brought back
the idea of escaping city life and spending time in controlled nature. These
gardens were designed as a way to study nature. By studying nature that was
first improved by man (maybe in the form of a garden, or painting) people were
able to study God and his creations and thus get closer to Him.
Because it was believed that nature is ordered by god and to understand god is to understand nature. Sculptures with symbolic meaning were also important aspects of the garden which allowed yet another form of art to flourish within these gardens. The Italian Renaissance gardens were artistically symbolic of renaissance thought so much as that they were not altered very much as the renaissance spread throughout Europe. These gardens were an art form that symbolized renaissance thought but also were just a beautiful and enjoyable place to be.
This picture from the Piccilomini Gardens in Italy is an excellent example of the link between man and nature and how the combination of the mountains and the garden were thought to reflect the work of God.
Because it was believed that nature is ordered by god and to understand god is to understand nature. Sculptures with symbolic meaning were also important aspects of the garden which allowed yet another form of art to flourish within these gardens. The Italian Renaissance gardens were artistically symbolic of renaissance thought so much as that they were not altered very much as the renaissance spread throughout Europe. These gardens were an art form that symbolized renaissance thought but also were just a beautiful and enjoyable place to be.
If you are interested in Italian renaissance gardens read more at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/i/italian-renaissance-villas-and-gardens/
Image Sources in the order they appear
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