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ENGLISH PLEASURE GARDENS 



Tbe rise of 

 the villa. 



The three 



periods. 



In Italy the best gardens were laid out during the 

 middle period of the Renaissance, beginning in the six- 

 teenth century. A spontaneous 

 delight in the beauty of nature, a 

 sincere love of art and keen interest 

 in archaeology, combined to create 

 the formal* garden in a nearly per- 

 fect style. Almost without excep- 

 tion these gardens were attached 

 to the villas near Rome belonging 

 to the cardinal princes of the 

 Church. Many have been pre- 



served in practically their original condition, and may 

 still be studied to advantage. 



Chronologically, the villa gardens can be classed in 

 three divisions. Of the 

 first period (1500 to 1540), 

 the Villa Madama, by 

 Raphael, is the best ex- 

 ample now extant. In 

 the second (1540 to 1580), 

 the greatest perfection 

 was reached in garden 

 architecture. Among the 

 country-seats built at that 

 time are the Villa Caprarola at Caprarola, the Villa 

 Lante at Bagnaja, and the Villa Papa Giulio at Rome, 



