Description
Keene presents an illustrated examination of gardens in European renaissance art and other culture. He focuses on paradoxes arising from assigning human values to gardens, such as symmetry, but shows why we can still appreciate how people associated love, science, redemption, pleasure, healing, trade and relaxation. The book is organized into three sections on gardens in life and literature broadly, the Christian significance of gardens and earthly paradise, and gardens under the auspices of feudal power. The book is stupendously illustrated with paintings, pages from prayer-books, photos, drawings and schematics--often taking up the whole page. Only names are indexed. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Whether part of a grand villa or an extension of a common kitchen, gardens in the Renaissance were planted and treasured in all reaches of society. Illuminated manuscripts of the period offer a glimpse into how people at the time pictured, used, and enjoyed these idyllic green spaces. Drawn from a wide range of works in the Getty Museum’s permanent collection, this gorgeously illustrated volume explores gardens on many levels, from the literary Garden of Love and the biblical Garden of Eden to courtly gardens of the nobility, and reports on the many activities—both reputable and scandalous—that took place there.This handsomely designed book is published on the occasion of an exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum from May 28 to August 11, 2013.
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