The Italian Renaissance was defined by a radical change in thinking which altered almost every aspect of Italian culture including the arts, literature, music, education, and religion. The Italian Renaissance started with Francesco Petrarch and his rediscovery of old Latin manuscripts (Lang, 2006). This led to the rediscovery of humanist thinking based off these old manuscripts. During the Renaissance, humanist thinking referred to an individual who read the ancients in order to have a greater depth of understanding about human experiences and the mind of God (Lang, 2006). Man was now thought of as a rational and sentient being, with enough autonomy to think and make decisions for himself. This fact led to a reevaluation of man’s relationship with God and nature, and ultimately had an extreme effect on Italian Renaissance gardens.

                      The new gardens of the Italian Renaissance began taking a more expansive and outwardly looking view, instead of being more inwardly focused and contained. This new garden form relied on geometric divisions connected by one common axis and joined by axial unity with the villas that they shaped. Beyond the general formation of Italian Renaissance gardens, they served the function of providing leisure, entertainment, and the display of wealth and power (Italian Renaissance Villas and Gardens, 2016). Water features were extremely important to the grandiosity of the gardens. Furthermore, sculptures played a pivotal role in decorating and displaying the power of the garden and the owner.

                      The change in style of the Italian Renaissance gardens is directly attributable to the rediscovery of humanist thinking as the gardens reflected man’s ability to display their wealth and power through nature, while also maintaining an important relationship with God.

This link relates well to the Italian Renaissance gardens as it has pictures of above views of Renaissance gardens as well as also pictures of water features and sculptures that were pivotal to the prestige of the garden. http://www.gardenvisit.com/history_theory/library_online_ebooks/ml_gothein_history_garden_art_design/early_baroque_gardens_italy

1.  
this photo shows the division of geometric shapes within the garden as well as the central water feature.

2. 

this photo of an Italian Renaissance garden also shows the use of geometric figures. Furthermore, it really captures the outwardly looking view. Also, shows the axial unity of the garden.

3. 




This image of the Chateau Villandry captures the expansiveness and ouwardly view of the garden. It also shows the garden maze. A true display of wealth and power.

sources for photos:

1. http://perryfoundation.org.nz/hamilton-gardens-windows-to-the-past/

2. http://www.ctrlzak.com/archive/SP_Topiaria.html

3. https://loirechateau.wikispaces.com/Chateau+de+Villandry

                     

References:

Lang, Sean. European History for Dummies: Part IV New Ideas, New Worlds. Chichester, England: John Wiley, 2006. Print.

"Italian Renaissance Villas and Gardens." Victoria and Albert Museum: The World's Leading Museum of Art and Design. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.