HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION 
19 
capable of much variety in their design, also formed an excellent motive for a central decorative 
feature, and were introduced at a very early date; the one here illustrated is now in the Victoria and 
Albert Museum, London ; it is a Romanesque example from Murano. 
Towards the latter part of the thirteenth century the interest in gardening commenced to be 
revived. In the glorious period of the Quattrocento, after a dormant state of close on a thousand 
years, Italian art awoke and resumed all its ancient energy and knowledge. A return was made to 
the study of nature. A close study of the plant-world gave many new and varied forms of decoration, 
and even amid the tumult of wars and insurrection the spirit of grandeur that belonged to the ancient 
classic villa was revived in the opulent gardens that surrounded the private houses of the Renaissance. 
It is the opinion of Burckhardt 1 that the private houses of the Renaissance period were built as they 
were ‘ because the love of fresh air was so great that people preferred to expose themselves to the risks 
of warfare by living out of doors, rather than remaining in safety behind the city walls.’ This is no 
doubt to a certain extent true; but, as Dr. Romualdo Pantini has pointed out, 2 * There were other 
reasons besides the simple love of fresh air, and the traditions of Roman ease and grandeur. The 
construction of these suburban houses and gardens was the natural consequence of the spirit of 
independence which sprang into being spontaneously as the natural conditions of life among the 
merchants and tradesmen allowed them to indulge it. Too much importance, therefore, need not be 
attached to the instinct to preserve, not only one’s property, but one’s health, in an age when forays 
and fighting were frequent.’ 
In the latter half of the thirteenth century first appeared the great work of Pietro Crescenzi, 
the lawyer and agronomist. This was by far the most important treatise upon agriculture produced 
during the middle ages, and throughout the whole of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries it stands 
alone in the literature of gardening. It was first published under the title of ‘ Opus Ruralium 
Commodorum,’ and was founded upon the works of the ancient agronomists, Cato, Varro, Palladius, 
and Columella, and also on the author’s own personal observation. It was printed for the first time 
in 1471, though the work had existed in manuscript copies for more than a century previously. 
Crescenzi was born at Bologna in 1230 and had devoted his youth to the study of science, 
medicine and law; owing to disturbances he was forced to leave his native city, and did not 
return for a period of thirty years, during which time he says he ‘ read and studied many ancient 
and modern books, and saw and learnt a great number of styles of cultivation.’ Returning to 
Bologna, he commenced to write his famous treatise, which was dedicated to Charles II., King of 
Sicily. The book was originally written in Latin, but was afterwards translated into Italian, 
French, and German. In the eighth book the author treats of the laying out of gardens, which he 
divides into three classes. Firstly, he deals with small herb gardens, under which term he includes 
small orchards, and gardens of fruit-trees and herbs pleasing to the sight. After giving minute 
directions as to the preparation of the soil, he recommends that the garden be square and so 
wide as to be sufficient for those who will dwell in it. In its borders should be planted every 
Gesckichte der Renaissance in Italien , 1891, Jacob Burckhardt. 
2 See article in the Studio, April 1902. 
