LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE 15 



design, as we shall see, but the conditions of mediaeval times 

 did not lend themselves to a high development of landscape 

 design. 



With the cessation of these harsh warlike conditions and 

 the dawn of the Renaissance, landscape design entered upon 

 a new and glorious era, for now, especially in Italy, great 

 protective fortress walls were useless, and we begin to find 

 country places designed solely for enjoyment and the enter- 

 tainment of guests, not as retreats for protection from war- 

 like neighbors. Then was developed that perfect thing in 

 landscape 'design, the Italian villa. 



The greatest artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael 

 and many others, made plans for them, and as we study their 

 work in this regard we see that the best principles of land- 

 scape design were instinctively used. An Italian villa in- 

 cluded the entire creation of roofed and unroofed buildings, 

 terraces, fountains, paths, walls, seats and planting. Every- 

 thing was most carefully provided for with one well rounded 

 purpose in view. 



The site was selected in an agreeable country, giving ac- 

 cess to good breezes and rare views; accessibility and con- 

 structive considerations were remembered. It was a hilly 

 country and rather high up, but not at the top of these hills 

 were placed the villas. There was always the closest ad- 

 justment to topography, but this adjustment differed from 

 that of mediaeval times. These sloping situations led nat- 

 urally to the development of the terrace, and while the Re- 

 naissance designers may have modified the topography more, 

 they did not contradict it, as was done in the earlier Roman 

 times. Definiteness was retained, but a larger unity was 

 introduced dependent more or less upon symmetry. Sym- 

 metry was almost lacking in mediaeval times, but in the 

 later Renaissance was carried to extremes. Repetition was 

 most effectively employed. Shade and an abundant water 

 supply were always provided. Social conditions were ever 

 in mind, in fact, the purpose of the Italian villa was largely 

 social. These were not hunting lodges or ascetic retreats, but 

 places for the social enjoyment of wealthy princes and prel- 

 ates and their many friends. Here we may not mention 

 the many details thought of, but the Villas Lanti and d'Este, 

 to mention only two of the more famous, show how perfectly 

 all was considered. 



