modern and varied requirements that would call for the offices of such an egregious proposition as one of these Roman villas in its pristine magnificence.
In the days of Imperial Rome and the Republic, although not exactly exemplifying the Anglo-Saxon idea of home, the villa was an essential part of the social fabric, and stood for the equivalent of a modern gentleman’s country seat; whereas, for the anomalous villa of the Renaissance, perhaps as comprehensive a definition as any, would be to call it a private playground de luxe for adult members of the pontificial families as well as for the deadgame sports themselves.
If Germany had won the war, and the Junkers had desired to commemorate the triumph of Prussian organization, they could have found no more fitting monument to erect than a Roman villa: For as a monument to the splendid organization of the church of the Renaissance period, its business acumen and material achievement in corralling and harnessing people, to produce income, I can conceive of no means of expression to equal such an amazing conception of outlay without conscience, without use, without benefit—except to spend burdensome income and discourage avarice—than one of these villas belonging, ostensibly, to the nephew of some opulent pontiff or cardinal-prince.
When the altars of the churches would hold no more sacrificial jewels, when no more baroque enrichment could be superimposed upon the interior walls, and the glass cabinets containing the tawdry gold and silver trinket offerings of the poorer parishioners would not longer contain them—when the urban palaces of the clergy had room for no more sacrifices, there had to be some way to take care of the overflow.
The Borghese family already possessed numerous estates, palaces and suburban villas, more than they could possibly use; but Pius V was in the habit of tipping his relatives handsomely —his nephew, Cardinal Scipio Borghese, in particular. Between them, they conceived the idea of a far more extensive villa for the Pincio than any hitherto erected in this favorite section of Rome. Hence, in 1615, Vasanzio was employed to design the casino of the present Villa Borghese, and doubtless the interesting and extremely “busy” dependencies where the same introduction of plastic art in combination with sculptured detail is carried out—a fashion said to have been set by the neighboring beautiful Villa Medici, which stands on the steep side of the hill overlooking the “eternal city,” with St. Peter’s in the distance. The Villa Borghese has no view from the sites chosen for its architectural exhibits which are inclosed in a vast park. Although nominally belonging to the environs of Rome the villa is as much a part of the city proper as Prospect Park is a part of Brooklyn. It comprises an irregular reservation less in area but with boundaries that give to it a marked resemblance particularly so if we pretend the Via Porta Pinciana to be Flatbush Avenue, running along the north side of the park rather than the south, and what would happen if the park commissioners neglected the upkeep of the public’s property for a number of years.
Take, then, Prospect Park, allow the turf to remain unclipped, let it become parched and dead, let the walks become dirt walks with undefined borders, widening and encroaching upon sections of the map where turf formerly grew, turn the leaves
INNER GATEWAY LEADING TO CASINO TERRACE
EAST FACADE OF THE CASINO
In the days of Imperial Rome and the Republic, although not exactly exemplifying the Anglo-Saxon idea of home, the villa was an essential part of the social fabric, and stood for the equivalent of a modern gentleman’s country seat; whereas, for the anomalous villa of the Renaissance, perhaps as comprehensive a definition as any, would be to call it a private playground de luxe for adult members of the pontificial families as well as for the deadgame sports themselves.
If Germany had won the war, and the Junkers had desired to commemorate the triumph of Prussian organization, they could have found no more fitting monument to erect than a Roman villa: For as a monument to the splendid organization of the church of the Renaissance period, its business acumen and material achievement in corralling and harnessing people, to produce income, I can conceive of no means of expression to equal such an amazing conception of outlay without conscience, without use, without benefit—except to spend burdensome income and discourage avarice—than one of these villas belonging, ostensibly, to the nephew of some opulent pontiff or cardinal-prince.
When the altars of the churches would hold no more sacrificial jewels, when no more baroque enrichment could be superimposed upon the interior walls, and the glass cabinets containing the tawdry gold and silver trinket offerings of the poorer parishioners would not longer contain them—when the urban palaces of the clergy had room for no more sacrifices, there had to be some way to take care of the overflow.
The Borghese family already possessed numerous estates, palaces and suburban villas, more than they could possibly use; but Pius V was in the habit of tipping his relatives handsomely —his nephew, Cardinal Scipio Borghese, in particular. Between them, they conceived the idea of a far more extensive villa for the Pincio than any hitherto erected in this favorite section of Rome. Hence, in 1615, Vasanzio was employed to design the casino of the present Villa Borghese, and doubtless the interesting and extremely “busy” dependencies where the same introduction of plastic art in combination with sculptured detail is carried out—a fashion said to have been set by the neighboring beautiful Villa Medici, which stands on the steep side of the hill overlooking the “eternal city,” with St. Peter’s in the distance. The Villa Borghese has no view from the sites chosen for its architectural exhibits which are inclosed in a vast park. Although nominally belonging to the environs of Rome the villa is as much a part of the city proper as Prospect Park is a part of Brooklyn. It comprises an irregular reservation less in area but with boundaries that give to it a marked resemblance particularly so if we pretend the Via Porta Pinciana to be Flatbush Avenue, running along the north side of the park rather than the south, and what would happen if the park commissioners neglected the upkeep of the public’s property for a number of years.
Take, then, Prospect Park, allow the turf to remain unclipped, let it become parched and dead, let the walks become dirt walks with undefined borders, widening and encroaching upon sections of the map where turf formerly grew, turn the leaves
INNER GATEWAY LEADING TO CASINO TERRACE
EAST FACADE OF THE CASINO