77//1 <7.-/ /W/i.Y.S' (;/' ITALY 



PREFACE. 



WHEN I set out before the Great War to prepare a new edition of THE GARDENS OF 

 ITALY it was with no calculated intention of doing more than a little revision and 

 expansion. The interest of the subject has proved so great, however, that 

 the present volume is, for all practical purposes, a new book. The 

 magnificent series of photographs taken by the late Charles Latham has been retained, save 

 for the elimination of a few subjects of minor interest, and about a hundred and fifty new 

 photographs have been added to make the series of villas and gardens more comprehensive. 

 Miss Evelyn March Phillipps' original text, with its valuable historical notes and the 

 delightfully told stories of the people who lived in these old palaces and gardens, has been 

 retained as far as possible. My work has been to add architectural notes throughout, 

 to enlarge considerably the sections relating to the Roman and Florentine examples, to write 

 entirely new chapters on the villas and gardens of Venetia, the lake district, and Genoa, to 

 contribute a general introduction, and, not least important, to gather together a valuable 

 series of plans. For these I have drawn freely on various sources, including Gauthier and 

 Reinhardt for Genoa, and Percier et Fontaine for Rome. Although the garden plans by the 

 latter, now reproduced, were made as long ago as 1809, they are in general so clear and correct 

 that I thought it better to give them in their original state. Those which I checked on the 

 spot did not show differences of such importance as to make it necessary to alter the originals. 

 They contain in some instances restorations which Percier et Fontaine thought were justified 

 to complete the original schemes. In some cases, e.g., the Palatine Hill, the drawings by these 

 authors are all that now remain, and their labours in recording these old gardens deserve our 

 warmest recognition. 



Returning to Italy for the purposes of this work, after nearly a quarter of a century, I was 

 greatly impressed with the improved condition of the country. This is reflected in the better- 

 cared-for condition of many of these gardens and villas. Though some losses have occurred, it 

 does not seem fair to bring the customary charges against the Italians of indifference to their 

 own past. I take this opportunity of thanking the owners who in many cases have very 

 cordially helped me : the views of the interiors at Dei Collazzi and the account of the Villa 

 Font'- All- 'Erta in particular are owing to such kindness. Two illustrations of the Villa Madama 

 are reproduced from the Royal Institute of British Architects' Journal, by kind permission of 

 Mr. Halsey Ricardo, F.R.I. B.A. 



To my friend Mr. Lawrence Weaver, C.B.E., F.S.A., I make particular acknowledg- 

 ment, for the work of revision has been the subject of many pleasant consultations, and 

 to his help and counsel is due much that should serve the reader's convenience and 

 pleasure. ARTHUR T. BOLTON, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A. 



