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[Rossi, Giovanni Giacomo (publisher) Roman Baroque Gardens. Rome c1670]. Folio. 8 engraved plates with title and descriptive key in roman and italic letter. Size of each 260 x 380mm. Bound in contemporary limp vellum with decorative blind-stamp on front and back cover, early ink library shelf. A portfolio of garden designs individually selected from the Rome print seller, Giovanni Rossi, and privately bound. Collections of such prints were acquired by travellers in Italy from about 1600, either as reminders of a visit, or as is most likely in the present case, for use as a pattern book of ideas in laying out grounds. The gardens represented here are as follows: I. Villa Pamphili, built from 1644, for the Pamphili family by Alessandro Algardi, the site (on the ancient Via Aurelia) offered a magnificent vista of Rome and a particularly spectacular view of St Peter s . The aspect shown here focuses on the view of the villa as seen from the hippodrome, and theatre with statuary and fountains. II. Villa Borghesia, begun in 1609, was built near the Porta Pinciana originally by the architect Flaminio Ponzio. The gardener in charge was listed as Domenico Savino who came from Montepulciano. The present view would appear to be that corresponding to the description of the 'first garden area . densely planted with evergreen trees and divided . into twenty-three roughly rectangular compartments outlined by espaliers of juniper, laurel, royal laurel, and mezereon (an early-flowering medicinal variety of laurel). Noblemen are seen entering the main gate into the 'semicircular piazza outlined by espaliered laurel trees to form a wall of niches in which were set alternately peperino benches and antique statues ( peperino : dark volcanic rock containing crystals) . Visible at the entrance are the famous herm statues by Pietro Bernini of the horticultural deities, Priapus and Flora . Herms and statues also adorn each compartment, and an amusing variety of topiaried trees runs along the boundary wall to the left of the entrance. The key below draws attention to the aviaries near the villa, a circular antique grotto resembling the nymphaeum of the Villa Adriana, and the gardener s house. Tunnels of firs are referred to as Boschetti ; hidden among these is the wine grotto or tinello , a domed oval arcade . set about 3 meters underground . III. Montalto. The largest estate within the city walls at the time; the several buildings derived ultimately from rustic farm buildings were conceived by Domenico Fontana and begun around 1578. The present magnificent engraving, signed by M. Greuter, would appear to date from about 1620. Still evident is the wedge-shaped design of compartments in front of the villa corresponding to one of the earliest pieces of land bought by Cardinal Montalto s family. The many rectilinear plots contained in the remaining walled area are characterized by delightful central fountains each within a different geometric-shaped pool. Behind the house is a semicircular piazza lined with huge triumphal urns; along the front allées are statues of exotic beasts; these lead to the Stalle de Lioni (lion pens). In the north-west corner can been the oval fishpool dominated by Bernini s sculpted group Neptune and a Triton calming the waves (this is now in the Victoria & Albert Museum). IV. Villa Medici, purchased and revised by Cardinal Ferdinand de Medici from circa 1576. The Florentine architect, Bartolomeo Ammanati, undertook the plan, and the villa was erected on the Monte Pincio overlooking Rome. More compact than those outside the city, it nevertheless had space for many fine statues and fountains (named here in the key). Its spectacular feature was the water stair descending from a mausoleum built on a steep slope to the right of the villa on which groves of cypresses were planted; below was a galleried grotto. An Egyptian obelisk with hieroglyphs stands out among the bordered compartments. Seller Inventory # ABE-1524140768375
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