pacesJong by seventy wide. An island of the same form, reached from 

 either side by bridges, has for a centre-piece Giambologna's celebrated 

 fountain with Oceanus and the rivers Nile, Ganges, and Euphrates, 

 represented by heroic statues. This group is placed above a huge 

 granite tazza, the pedestal of which is encircled by a seat, and through 

 the water which falls from the lip of the basin into a runlet below is 

 shown the garden : a quaint conceit of the fountain-artist. 



The island makes a most charming private garden, and rejoices in a 

 constant succession of flowers disposed about it in pots as well as in the 

 box-bordered beds. At the waterside is a well-designed balustrade, 

 broken into short sections, the stone-work curving downwards to 

 bracketed pedestals on which stand vases with lemon-trees. 



At the landward end of the bridges are wrought-iron gates placed 

 between coupled columns, above which are Capricorns carved in marble ; 

 an old device of Cosimo I. who was born under that constellation. At 

 the water's edge, close by these gateways, are grotesque creatures spout- 

 ing into great sea-shells from which the water falls into other shells 

 beneath. Four other fantastic fountains are disposed around the verge, 

 which form pedestals for certain graceful amorini who appear to be 

 playing tricks with the human heart. One places his foot upon a heart 

 which he is about to strike with a hammer ; another holds a heart in his 

 hand and attempts to open it with a key. Each of these is by Domenico 

 Pieratti, their fellows in the opposite quarter being by Cos. Salvestrini. 



Connecting the various fountains is a wrought-iron fence, provided 

 with numerous tiny jets. These, when in working order, formed a 

 succession, oi jets cTeaux encircling the pool, in the middle of which 

 forlorn Andromeda, chained to a rock, looks expectantly for her Perseus, 

 while a horrid bronze monster threateningly raises his shiny green head 

 at her very feet. 



On every side stone benches are set beneath the overhanging ilex 

 hedge, and rustic statues, weather stained, play hide and seek in the 

 greenery. Above the wall of close-clipped evergreen rise high in air 

 the dark spires of cypress and the lighter foliage of deciduous trees, all 

 mirrored in the still pool below. 



8S 



