DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68272#0207
THE TIVOLI FALLS, THE VILLA D'ESTE AND HADRIAN'S VILLA. 189
grand organ fountain, which is
built into the flanking hillside at
right angles to the main terrace.
' rhe famous alley of the hundred
fountains is a level walk below
that of the main terrace. The
vista down this alley is effective,
extending to the end fountain,
whose white spray is seen en-
closed in a setting of laurel
foliage. Eagles, boats, obelisks
and fleur-de-lys, all in masonry,
line the bank above the jetting
fountains of this unique gallery.
To-day they are overhung with
maidenhair fern, which veils the
obliteration of the delicate
stucco reliefs in which Pirro
Ligorio delighted.
Besides the main stairwav
descent on the axis line there
are raking, sloping ways that
descend to the various levels
that step down the hillside in
succession. The slopes are
thickly planted so that the
scheme is not too visible, and a
great and interesting variety of
vistas is thus secured. The
main idea was that of spreading
the waters of Anio over the
gardens so that a great con-
certed piece of water music
should be created. The tinkle
of the small fountains leads up
to the grand roar of the more
massive cascades falling into
the great basins. Everywhere
the sound of waters pervades
the gardens, bringing freshness
and a lulling sense of repose in
the heated atmosphere of the
Italian noonday.
The villa is the creation of
its own time, of an age obsessed
with the recovered glories of
old Rome. To this are due some
features of the scheme, which
may make but faint appeal to the
present-day student of Italian
gardening. The miniature of
Rome, a series of little structures
occupying a terrace plateau to
itself, is a jeu d'esprit of a kind
195.—THE VILLA D’ESTE AT TIVOLI.
Restoration by Percier and Fontaine.
196.—VIEW LOOKING UP THE MAIN AXIS OF THE
VILLA D’ESTE.
grand organ fountain, which is
built into the flanking hillside at
right angles to the main terrace.
' rhe famous alley of the hundred
fountains is a level walk below
that of the main terrace. The
vista down this alley is effective,
extending to the end fountain,
whose white spray is seen en-
closed in a setting of laurel
foliage. Eagles, boats, obelisks
and fleur-de-lys, all in masonry,
line the bank above the jetting
fountains of this unique gallery.
To-day they are overhung with
maidenhair fern, which veils the
obliteration of the delicate
stucco reliefs in which Pirro
Ligorio delighted.
Besides the main stairwav
descent on the axis line there
are raking, sloping ways that
descend to the various levels
that step down the hillside in
succession. The slopes are
thickly planted so that the
scheme is not too visible, and a
great and interesting variety of
vistas is thus secured. The
main idea was that of spreading
the waters of Anio over the
gardens so that a great con-
certed piece of water music
should be created. The tinkle
of the small fountains leads up
to the grand roar of the more
massive cascades falling into
the great basins. Everywhere
the sound of waters pervades
the gardens, bringing freshness
and a lulling sense of repose in
the heated atmosphere of the
Italian noonday.
The villa is the creation of
its own time, of an age obsessed
with the recovered glories of
old Rome. To this are due some
features of the scheme, which
may make but faint appeal to the
present-day student of Italian
gardening. The miniature of
Rome, a series of little structures
occupying a terrace plateau to
itself, is a jeu d'esprit of a kind
195.—THE VILLA D’ESTE AT TIVOLI.
Restoration by Percier and Fontaine.
196.—VIEW LOOKING UP THE MAIN AXIS OF THE
VILLA D’ESTE.