How Renaissance Thinking Appeared in Renaissance Gardens

The Renaissance saw a change in the paradigm of man's relationship with God. Rather than spending one's life on Earth focusing on the afterlife and struggling to earn favor with God, Renaissance thinkers elevated humans in relation to God. The idea may be perfectly illustrated in Michelangelo's Creation of Adam painting, in which Adam is nearly on the same physical level as God and they are almost touching hands. It is this idea that ultimately influenced every piece of the time we refer to as the Renaissance.

An idea, that to know this world is to also know God, developed as a result of new thinking. And because God and nature were being reevaluated, the garden acted as an experimental space for both changed relationships. Along with humanism, the Renaissance saw a passionate rediscovery of Ancient Greek and Roman literature. It was examined, translated, studied, and elements began appearing in painting and sculpture of the time. Just like art, gardens saw an interesting blend of religious art, both Christian and Classical. Gardens very often had allegorical themes, which utilized a variety of characters to represent everything from ancient myths to the owner of the garden's occupation and goals in life, as can be seen throughout Cardinal Ippolito's Villa d'Este. The picture below shows the garden's Fontana Della Rometta, which represents the Cardinal's desire to move to Rome and become the Pope.

The renewed interest in Ancient Roman life brought about the desire to emulate it as much as possible. As such, countryside villas like Villa d'Este were a reincarnation of Ancient Roman homes. Compared to gardens of Medieval times, the Renaissance gardens were physical representations of the influences of Renaissance thought. They were expansive to reflect expansions in thinking, outwardly directed in comparison to the enclosed gardens of the Middle Ages, and their structure also called to mind the gardens of Ancient Rome. Axial symmetry was reintroduced, as inspired by classical texts.

Another feature that was explored in the Renaissance gardens was the idea of 3rd nature. It goes along with the examination of man's relationship with nature, and describes the use of natural materials to imitate nature in artistic ways. It exemplifies the humanistic thought that people had the ability to control nature and assert a type of power over their own lives.

Sources:
http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.dk/2011/05/rome-opening-times-for-villa-deste.html (Villa d'Este - Rometta)
http://www.louisajones.fr/blog/versailles-and-villa-deste (Villa d'Este - Axis)

The Role of Religion in Gardens

In Ancient Rome, gardens served as a status symbol among the wealthier of Roman citizens. Gardens were a place of otium, where people could gather to relax and discuss great ideas. This, however, was not their only function. Roman gardens had religious elements, such as statues or frescoes dedicated to gods and goddesses having to do with nature and the outdoors. It was not uncommon to find spaces dedicated to the house gods, either. Aediculas, or small shrines, were often placed in gardens to give people the opportunity to pay their respects to the gods of their time. Below is an example of what an aedicula may have looked like in an Ancient Roman garden.

Medieval gardens were much more varied, depending on who the garden belonged to and what it's main purpose was, but some of them echoed the religious aspects of the Roman garden. During Medieval times, Christianity heavily influenced all types of art, because creating art and architecture dedicated to God was seen as a way to repay debts and get into heaven. As the Middle Ages progressed, it became popular to associate the Virgin Mary with gardens. An enclosed garden was symbolic of her virginity when Christ was born, and this idea appeared repeatedly in paintings and tapestries throughout the era. Even so, the gardens themselves did not have much religious symbolism unless they were monastic cloisters. The cloisters, much like the Roman gardens, were seen as a space in which one could relax and ponder deep thoughts, but this time, they were most likely about God and the Bible. Cloisters sometimes had features such as a central fountain and four streams flowing from it to represent the Garden of Eden and the four rivers that flowed from it, and other symbolism that brought those who spent time there closer to God. This photo is one I took at Salisbury Cathedral in England, and exemplifies the simplistic beauty of cloister gardens.

For Islamic gardens, religious influence is almost the sole reason why the gardens even existed. According to Muhammad, Allah is beautiful and He loves beauty. Therefore, the creation of beautiful things became a way to worship, and it was integrated into the daily lives of Muslims. The beautiful things they created were often understated but incredibly detailed, and this can be seen in everything from paintings to gardens. The focus in Islamic gardens was often intricate design work on fountains, walls and roofs, and it took form in arabesque, calligraphic and geometric designs. This intricacy can be seen throughout La Alhambra, in Spain. The carvings cover nearly every surface, and act as a small but powerful reminder to celebrate Allah each time one walks through the gardens.

Sources:

http://www.utexas.edu/courses/italianarch/pompeii.html (Roman Aedicula)

Why are gardens an intrinsic piece of European culture?

Europe has a history that stretches back thousands of years. Over those years, cultural influences from across the world flowed through, affecting everything from language to artistic expression. Included in that category of artistic expression are gardens. It would be impossible to discuss European history and culture without mentioning gardens, as even today, elaborate gardens like Versailles and La Alhambra are some of the most visited in the world.

In my opinion, European garden art first took root during the Roman Empire. It was a time of enlightenment, and gardens were a way in which people could display their social status and knowledge. It was fashionable to curate an exotic collection of plants, and gardens served to showcase other art forms, such as sculpture and mosaics. Romans treasured the idea of otium, which is using your free time on something constructive like philosophy or art. What better place to discuss great ideas than relaxing in a sunlight garden, with the sound of a fountain close by? Additionally, the size of the empire itself allowed these ideas to spread far over Europe and ultimately influenced gardens across the continent. 

This picture, which I took at Roman ruins in southern Spain, reflects much that was common in a garden during the height of the Roman Empire. A marble statue, evergreen trees and a palm all work to recreate the atmosphere that many upper-class Roman citizens enjoyed. 

Though the Middle Ages in Europe saw a decline in expansive, decorative gardens, the art was not lost. It manifested itself in monastic cloisters, and the elaborate garden was eventually brought back through the Moors in Spain. At La Alhambra, Moorish architecture and styling is very apparent, and marks yet another phase in European gardening and history. 

Gardens are an intrinsic piece of European culture because they are an art form that has been carried throughout the continent's long and varied history, and the influences of each era are represented. Different features of the many cultures that have occupied this place can still be seen in gardens today, and the garden itself is a unique visual expression of history and subsequently, culture.