being at present in a desolate and almost ruinous state. Heretofore 

 crowds of people have enlivened Boboli ; of late it is totally deserted. 

 An amphitheatre of evergreens, formed and fitted exactly to the garden 

 front of the palace has a charming effect, especially at this dead time of 

 the year ; they rise naturally, gradually, and in variety of pleasing shades, 

 one above another. They are absolutely beyond the power of description. 

 On the top of one part of the garden is the great fort which defends the 

 town. In another part a gentle ascent leads to a banqueting-house, 

 which commands a view of the whole city. The banqueting-house is 

 the plainest building imaginable. Such an edifice would not be per- 

 mitted to hold scythes or shovels, in the gardens of Stow, Chiswick or 

 Claremont." 



When Luca Pitti died he left his grandiose palace but half-finished, 

 and his heirs so impoverished that they were unable to carry on the 

 work ; so it came about that in 1 549 it was sold to Leonora di Toledo, 

 wife of Cosimo I., who bought land adjoining, and in the following year 

 commenced to lay out the Boboli Gardens, The work was begun under 

 the direction of Niccolo Pericoli, nicknamed II Tribolo, and was 

 continued by Bernardo Buontalenti ; but much of the architectural 

 work, the fountains, and statuary, as well as the garden court, are due to 

 Bartolommeo Ammanati. 



Closing in the court on the side towards the garden is a heavy grotto- 

 structure adorned with a figure of Moses and certain symbolic statues ; 

 putfi and sea-monsters play around them, and the arms of de' Medici and 

 della Rovere are disposed on either side, the work being carried out in 

 marbles of various colours, porphyry, and bronze. 



Above the grotto, upon a terrace level with the piano nobile of the 

 palace and of the garden beyond, is an octagonal fountain, constructed 

 with much originality by Susini and Ferucci in 1641, and forming a most 

 delightful foreground to the amphitheatre and its overhanging banks of 

 evergreen trees beyond. 



Dolphins and imps of boys disport themselves in the water, and- 

 tritons support the upper tazze. On the side towards the palace the 

 overflow is ingeniously carried off through four minor basins arranged as 

 cascatelle, and deep-ribbed seashells, dolphins, and puttini complete the 



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