130 



tliere is notlii rig absurd in supposing tkithe 

 might have given some atteMion to the de- 

 corations of a gai'den. G. Romano, tlic 

 most distinoiiishcd amono' the modems ihr 

 a highly poetical genius in jiainting, did not 

 disdain to make drawings for the Duke Oif 

 Mantua's plate ; and therefore eould not 

 have thought it a degradation of his art to 

 have designed such a garden, as would best 

 accompany and set off his owa archi- 

 tecture. That style of gai'dening therefore, 

 and those decorations which men of such 

 eminence possibly may have designed, and 

 certainly did not disdain to associate with 

 tlieir own designs, ought not to be treated 

 with contempt and be totally banished, to 

 make way for the productions of a Ke»t, 

 or a Brown. 



Having shewn the possibility at least of 

 such high authorities for the excellence of 

 the old Italian gardens, I will now endea- 

 vour to point out what I conceive to be the 

 principles on which' that excellence is 

 founded. 



