GARDEN ORNAMENTS 187 



fountain is shown in a Flemish Horse. A statue of Venus 

 is at the top and the water issues from a globe below 

 and falls into three separate receptacles, so that the 

 first one can be used for drinking, and the other larger 

 basins for household purposes. The whole of this little 

 garden is railed round by a delightful trellis fence, and it 

 was evidently treasured for the sake of the almond-trees 

 behind the well and the flowers which surround the steps 

 and pool. 



As time went on, fountains became simpler in style, 

 more like Fig. 106, and yet taller ones, which still 

 show some trace of Gothic decoration, until, with the 

 advent of Le N6tre and his workmen, a revival took 

 place of early Italian statuary. Neptunes, dolphins, and 

 mermaids then formed centre-pieces to large circular 

 pools, in which beautiful reflections of autumn-tinted 

 foliage were sought. When the formality of rli^jpeu 

 hedges became exaggerated and^.*iB.|3c-»rrtjfSsarcasms 

 upon topiaij, iUial 'grottos "In which fountains played 

 succeeded the marble figures, and good statuary became 

 scarce. It is possible, now we have so fine an example 

 of a figure-fountain in front of Buckingham Palace, that 

 private gardens may give encouragement to the sculptor's 

 art, by a revival of marble sea gods and goddesses ; for 

 the reflection of such whiteness is beautiful in water. 

 Sometimes, in the background of a figure-group, painted 

 by an old master, we can faintly trace some semblance 

 of an old garden, and in this way we are familiar with the 

 " Kynge's Beestes," some of which were carved in wood 

 and others in stone, for the gardens at Hampton Court. 

 History tells that in Henry VIII.'s time there were 

 many such columns in that garden. They bore heraldic 

 devices of dragons, tigers, greyhounds, such as are now 

 seen upon the moat-bridge which admits to the Palace. 

 Each heraldic beast was mounted upon a tall column with 



