The reflecting pool, New Place, William Henry Crocker House, Hillsborough, California. Coloured photograph by Frances Benjamin Johnston, 1917. Library of Congress.
The gardens of the Palace of Caserta - full of surprises and not just a long canal (3km). At the very top are Diana and Actaeon, straight from the pages of Ovid, Actaeon being ripped apart by his hounds. Step away from the main axis and there is Diana hiding in the glade in the English Garden, a pyramid house and other strange structures in the landscape.
A year ago and our last school trip before it all went 🍐 shaped. @kewgardens and the wonders of the Herbarium, with Sue the amazing botanist. I've never wanted to live south of the river but this could tempt me right now as @kewgardens is open!
Atlas and his celestial globe in the water theatre at Villa Aldobrandini. Dates from c1600 for Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini (he was 'gifted' the land by his uncle Pope Clement VIII who wanted a palace and garden but as Pope wasn't allowed to own himself). The next is the Farnese Atlas 2nd-century AD Roman marble. Probably a copy of an earlier work of the Hellenistic period, it is the oldest extant statue of Atlas. The sculpture now in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. In the early 16thc this Atlas belonged to Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, hence its name. Final image of the Cardinal himself, by Titian, also now in the same museum in Naples.
From a visit to RIBA - Villa Lancellotti (also called Villa Piccolomini). Drawing of 1925. This drawing was produced for the publication 'Italian Gardens of the Renaissance' by John Shepherd and Geoffrey Jellicoe. We have been lucky not only to have trips to RIBA to see the drawings, but to see the real thing in Frascati. I'm remembering that real Princesses drink Coca Cola and know how to eat peanuts. And my goodness what a villa and what a garden (not allowed to include images as they asked for privacy). #RIBA #missinglibrariessomuch
A very stormy trip to Normandy and Château de Beaumesnil. It has a moat with a crazy maze, built on a mound that was once an ice house. Gardens 17thc by a pupil of Le Nôtre, La Quintinie but much altered. Don't take the short cut to the woods - I got bitten by a goose. Great interiors (with fake puddings which I always enjoy).
The Papaacqua fountain made of peperino rock, next to the Chigi-Albani Palace of 1560's. So many similarities with nearby gardens and sculptures - Villa Farnese, Sacro Bosco, Villa Lante (same sculptors?).
Back to gardens in films - 'Kind Hearts and Coronets' - I know poor Henry's house was filmed at Gore Court Farm but I'm not sure that the topiary was. @james_todman this looks like your recent post?? Any ideas?
Villa Trissino Marzotto - the upper/higher villa. No.3 photo shows the 18thc Muttoni parterre. The villa contains some incredible tapestries -made in Brussels in 1552 'Les enfants jardiniers'. They were originally commissioned by Ferrante Gonzaga, the underdrawings being attributed to Raphael and Giulio Romano. Count Gaetano Marzotto began to buy the tapestries in the 1930's, from different sources, including one from the Prado. They are incredibly important historically and botanically as they show in great detail not only plant specimens but vine growing techniques.
New courses announced! Ooh and this is one of the most wonderful buildings and renaissance gardens - #villacicognamozzoni I had the most incredible visit here - I saw a huge stag running from the Diana garden! Ovid and his Metamorphosis lives on the walls of the building and in the garden! It has the most fabulous guardian with Jacopo Cicogna Mozzoni.
