play in the fountain-basins ; dolphins and ta%ze fringe the stairways and 

 cascades ; and statues, vases, masks, and finials are to be met at every 

 turn. 



The most fascinating portion of the villa is that which lies in close 

 proximity to the little pavilion. The ground rises to this point and the 

 pavilion is constructed in two stories, with lo^k on each, opening on to 

 the upper and lower levels. On the one side a loggia looks away over the 

 broad gracious landscape to the snow-capped Apennines ; on the other it 

 looks upon the parterre where stout box-hedges, severely geometrical, 

 serve as background to certain low-lipped fountain basins with sea-horses 

 prancing and spouting water. All around, ranged on the low wall, are 

 grotesque terminal statues backed by beautiful old cypresses. At a break 

 in the parapet tritons and unicorns play with the water before it finally 

 descends to the lower level and the long cascatella. Unfortunately 

 the architect has not been so successful as the sculptor ; much of his 

 work is heavy and ill-proportioned and would not pass muster but 

 for the help he constantly receives from the sculptor and the " water- 

 artist." 



The pavilion with its frescoed loggie strikes a much higher note ; it is 



a most refined piece of work and might be placed fifty years earlier than 



the bulk of the architectural work. Much of the sculpture is singularly 



. happy and fanciful, and we seem to recognise the hand of one at least of 



the artists from the Villa Lante. 



77 



