uncommon feature in Italian gardens, where shade is an important 

 matter. 



A few years ago, small square seats or pedestals, carved in high 

 relief with scroll-work, swags and other ornament, existed between each 

 pair of benches, but unfortunately these disappeared at the time of the 

 so-called restoration. 



Two fountains, designed by Vansantio, which belong to the original 

 gardens, are still in existence. They lie among the evergreen oaks 

 in the pleasant shady little valley beneath the Casino. From the 

 centre of a large oval cistern rises a fountain of simple but excellent 

 design, basin above basin, with the familar baluster-shaped support. 



These two fountains, apparently of white marble, but now toned 

 and made still more exquisite with lichen, moss and water-weeds, are 

 similar in general design, but the details and proportions are different. 

 The taller of the two is singularly graceful and satisfying. Surround- 

 ing them is a circle of stone seats with pedestals for statues. The 

 statues are unhappily things of the past, and the ilex hedges, some 

 twenty feet high, shown in old prints, are grown beyond recognition. 



Almost in a line with Vansantio's fountains, but lower down the 

 little valley, was the lago^ which formerly received the overflow from 

 the various fountains. On the plan made by Felice it is shown as a 

 rectangular piece of water, with a couple of woody islands, no doubt 

 intended as quiet nesting-places for the waterfowl. When the new 

 lago by the Temple of Esculapius was made, towards the close of the 

 eighteenth century, the old one was probably filled up by the landscape 

 gardener. 



At the back of the palazzo looking northward was another loggia 

 or arcaded gallery, open to the cool fresh mountain breezes, and 

 commanding an extensive view of the campagna with the valley of 

 the Tiber, and of the blue Sabine Hills away to the right. 



Below lies a rectangular court, overgrown with grass, and surrounded 

 by statues, of various periods and degrees of interest, sarcophagi, and 

 great earthenware wine-jars, picturesquely placed against a background 

 of ancient ilex trees. A circular fountain basin marks the centre of 

 this court, where formerly stood Vansantio's " Fountain of Narcissus." 



15 



