At a Glance
The garden. It can be perceived as a small part of the world, or as a world onto itself — a microcosm full of life and a complete work of art in and of itself. From the colors of flowers and their sweet scent to birdsong and soft breezes, a garden appeals to all of our senses. In a state of continual transformation, it cannot be captured in a single instance. In this lecture series, we invite you on an imaginary stroll through gardens as they have been represented in art. You’ll be led through a creative landscape that covers many historic, religious and artistic periods. Although this lecture stands independently, you will find all three parts of the series enjoyable and informative. In part two, we begin in 15th century Italy and Northern Europe, where gardens were conceived as enchanted places of intimacy and secret retreats inspired by elegant literature, music and dance. Discover how this garden art sometimes became a show of pomp and spectacle, expressing a ruler’s total domination over nature. From there, explore 18th century gardens where the style of Versailles gave way to more natural designs inspired by landscape paintings of the countryside and writings of philosophers.
