VIELA LANE 
BAGNAIA. 
ROM an old deed in the archives of Viterbo 
we learn that Bagnaia in_ the twelfth 
century was the property of the Lombard 
Counts of Castellardo, by whom it was 
given to the Commune of Viterbo. This deed was 
deposited by Christian, Archbishop of Mayence, 
Chamberlain to the Emperor Frederick I., in 1173. 
It was, in fact, restored by him to Viterbo, which 
had forfeited it as a fine for having destroyed the 
city of Ferento. 
In the fourteenth century Ranieri, Bishop of 
Viterbo, was a mighty hunter. He used to hunt 
and hawk in the mountains round Bagnaia, and 
built himself there a little hunting-lodge, to 
which he could escape in the intervals of adminis- 
tering his See. That little lodge still stands, 
stout and solid, and forms the stable of the present 
villa. Through the stucco and whitewash with 
which it is covered, struggle the dim traces of 
a coat of arms, the heraldic device of Bishop 
Ranieri. The bishopric was a poor one, and the 
municipality of Viterbo, wishing its bishop to 
have an income more worthy of it, presently 
made over to the See the whole of the lands 
and township of Bagnaia, which became the 
country seat of its bishops, who one after another 
laid out and embellished the grounds. ; 
In 1566 Cardinal di Gambara was elected to 
the bishopric. The craze for building villas was 
just reviving in Italy, and no villas were more 
beautiful than those which rose round Rome— 
the stupendous pile of Caprarola, the romantic 
scheme of Este, the lovely and lovable Lante. 
Cardinal di Gambara employed the great 
Vignola, who was already at work a few miles 
off at Caprarola, and it is interesting, as illustrating 
the variety of which the famous architect was 
capable, to contrast the grandeur of the first with 
the imposing elegance of the second. 
Vignola was pre-eminently the villa architect. 
Born 1507, he grew to manhood just when the 
craze for these dwellings was developing, and in 
Rome he was employed in no very great works by 
the State, but was free to devote himself entirely 
to the caprices of the great Cardinals and the Pope 
himself in their private pleasure-houses. Vignola’s 
life and career were almost contemporary with 
those of Palladio, and the two together completed 
the first period of the Renaissance. During the 
half century that preceded their advent, the last 
traces of feeling for Gothic art had died in Italy, 
and the admiration for the classic was becoming 
more fixed and dogmatic. In the early days of the 
revival architects had not intended merely to copy : 
they were full of delicate and original fancy ; but 
Vignola, from long and enthusiastic study of classic 
art, grew to believe that nothing else was worthy 
of study, and that the most exact imitation was to 
be aimed at. His work may in consequence 
sometimes seem rather cold and tame, but it 
is so correct, that it can only be criticised as 
classic. work. Among his famous villas, after 
Caprarola, which is regarded as his masterpiece, 
are the villa of Pope Julius outside the Flaminian 
Gate and several small palaces in Rome. itself. 
Ferguson points out that these are less remarkable 
for any striking features than for an entire absence 
of bad taste or false principles, which in that age 
is great praise ; and this is certainly the case with 
Villa Lante, as we now call it. The house was 
designed to consist of two separate buildings, and 
simple as they are, they have all the beauty of 
proportion and delicacy of detail which distinguish 
this architect. It was when he came to the laying 
out of the garden that Vignola was able to give 
his genius some freedom, and he remains one of the 
very foremost of the garden designers of his age. 
The house, or rather villas, were planned in 
conjunction with a scheme of paths, water-tanks, 
balustrades, and fountains, forming a gay and 
charming garden, sufficiently stately, but airy and 
graceful in design, and not too fine to be a restful 
and attractive summer resort. 
We can imagine the courtly old Cardinal 
gloating over the plans and watching the progress 
of the workmen with an impatient eye; but he 
was not destined to see the tulfilment of his dreams. 
Pope Gregory XIII., hearing much of the beauties 
of the villa, proposed to pay it a visit, and the 
Cardinal made extensive preparations to receive 
him. The first of the twin buildings was finished. 
Vignola’s design for the gardens was partly carried 
out ; but the Pope, not being able to fulfil his pro- 
posed intention, sent in his stead that meretorious 
