Lazzaro provides a scholarly treatment of Italian Renaissance gardens in the context of 16th-century attitudes about nature, art, and culture. She thoroughly examines original designs and documents and provides excellent photographs. Thus, one can begin to compare the gardens as they now exist with the gardens as they were originally planned and executed. Four well-preserved, grand gardens are treated in depth; the plant material used, the form of the plantings, and the architectural details are all covered in the lively text and excellent photographs and drawings.
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