78 
VILLA BORGHESE AND THE BORGHESE PALACE, ROME. 
This sumptuous palace is likely to be regarded by the public, who are so freely admitted to its 
stately salons, as the veritable type of the Roman Palazzo. It is, however, rather late in date. Though 
built in 1615 from the designs of Giovanni Vasanzio (called II Fiammingo, or the Fleming), both 
Rainaldi and Fontana were employed upon the original gardens and waterworks. The Palazzo 
itself was rebuilt in 1782 bv Marcantonio Borghese. The internal decorations are partly by 
Gavin Hamilton, who figures in the later history of the building of Lansdowne House originated 
bv Robert Adam. The great saloon of the Borghese is an imposing room with its frescoes 
and mosaic floor. The vault is coved up without marked intersections, and the upper lighting 
is effective. There is a splendid room immediately behind with inlaid marble floor and paintings 
in the Pompeian style on the walls, while a large subject fresco occupies the centre of the 
vaulted ceiling. The doors of walnut and gold are effective features. The group of Apollo 
and Daphne, Bernini’s masterpiece in 1616, at the age of eighteen, will always command 
attention as expressive of tendencies that were afterwards to be so largely developed. “ Dio, 
what a genius I had at that age!” One likes to remember that very human cry of the aged 
sculptor at the sight of his early work. Pauline Borghese, as Venus Vincitrice, by the agency 
of Canova, is another piece of sculpture that has a perennial interest for the visitor. 
Externally, the rising forecourt, with the famous balustrading, now only a reproduction, gives 
some degree of architectural setting to the villa. The facade is effective, but rather tall ; the 
statues are somewhat small, and so is the arcaded loggia in relation to the large windows above. 
Some extension is given to the facade by screen walls. The barrel- vaulted entrance loggia 
makes a fine feature. The old drawing reproduced (Fig. 89) is full of character : it shows, by 
comparison with the photograph, the translation due to the rebuilding, and the loss of the local 
character of the original structure. It is difficult to speak of the park : the very use by 
the public must of itself destroy any antique charm ; the confluence of crowds demands 
equivalent treatment. It is a park of unusual character, and there are one or two 
centres of special interest, but there is not much there to-day for the true lover of Italian 
gardens. T. B. 
89. — CASINO OF THE VILLA BORGHESE, ROME. 
