Size and Extent 23 



building, a palace from the Strada Balbi, sump- 

 tuous in its decorative flourishes, surrounded with 

 high terraces, with rich, multi-colored parterres 

 of flowers, studded with marble statues and alive 

 with the movement of waters, — what a contrast 

 would this be to the tremendous, naked grandeur 

 of the setting of mountains ? A few steps aside 

 in the woods, and palace and gardens would have 

 vanished from view, as by magic, to make room 

 again for the undisturbed loneliness and majestic 

 wilderness of Nature. Farther on, perhaps, a 

 bend in the road would open up an unexpected 

 vista, where, in the distance, the work of art, 

 like a realized fairy dream, would show through 

 the dark firs, glowing in the light of the setting 

 sun, or rising over the mysterious darkness of the 

 valley in a mass where, here and there, the tiny 

 sparkles of lighted candles would glow. Would 

 not such a picture be wonderful, and owe its 

 chief beauty largely to contrast ? When Nature 

 offers new material, the scheme must be differ- 

 ent ; then the park, an oasis in a broad, flat space,* 

 must first create its own environment. Although 

 the same laws are everywhere the foundation of 

 beauty, they have to be interpreted and expressed 

 in various ways. In such a case, where no im- 

 pression by great contrasts can be achieved, one 

 must carefully seek to create a pleasant and gen- 

 tle harmony, bringing the few large elements, 

 such as distant views, into correspondence with 

 the character given to the park. The size of the 

 domain then becomes a chief consideration. In 



