THE GARDEN BOOK OF CALIFORNIA 



nificent pergola, the vista from which was of the glistening 

 waters of the Bay of Naples. Commerce and modern 

 buildings having crowded close upon the palace grounds, 

 the view of the bay was curtailed and marred in an artistic 

 sense. The lordly owner ordered that a great wall should 

 be erected to cut off the offensive building from sight. He 

 then directed one of the greatest artists of the age to depict 

 with his brush on the inner side of this wall the beautiful 

 view of the bay as it had been ; and so cunningly framed by 

 natural vines is the great masterpiece that frequenters of the 

 pergola looking down from above are fairly deceived into 

 believing themselves still looking out upon the Bay of 

 Naples. 



The hills of Italy cannot give a more artistic vantage- 

 spot for the pergola than do those of California. 



Amalfi and Ravello, Naples or Florence, can show no 

 more beautiful opportunities for this form of out-of-door 

 architecture than beautiful Belvedere, or Berkeley, or Mon- 

 tecito, or San Buenaventura, Los Angeles or San Diego. 



In planning the pergola, the architectural thought is to 

 have its component parts light in color, in contrast to the dark 

 foliage of the vines. Some important point in the garden, 

 such as the end of a walk, or the edge of a cliff, will 

 give the desired vantage-point for a view which will come as 

 a surprise to the guest. 



The subject is too large — this of pergola building — for 

 a single chapter, and as I glanced over these few sentences 

 in which I have tried to describe their charm, I am hoping 



[1081 



