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History

Renaissance and Baroque Gardens in Central and Northern Italy

Course Times & Enrolment

Wednesdays from 17th April 2024 (Code HS058-301) Wednesdays from
17th April 2024 2:30pm - 4:00pm • (4 classes) LG49 Paterson's Land, Holyrood Campus • Tutor: Lucinda Byatt MA PhD
This course is now closed for enrolments

Course Summary

An exploration of garden development in different regions of central and northern Italy against the background of social, cultural and political events, roughly spanning the period 1450-1800. The course will include a garden visit in Edinburgh. 

Course Details

Special Information

Recommended reading books can be purchased new or second hand from online and in store in book shops. Students are not required to purchase the books in order to take this course.

Content of Course

This course will examine garden design in northern and central Italy from the 15th to the 18th century, in the context of wider historical developments. We will explore gardens from Tuscany, including Medici influence, from the Veneto including city gardens and Palladio’s villa gardens, and from Piedmont and Lombardy. Using a wide range of visual and written sources, and led by informal lecture, students will consider the evolution of styles from Renaissance to Baroque. We will assess how these gardens and their patrons represent the politics, culture and society of Italy at the time, and how their influence spread to northern Europe. 

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:  

  1. Identify the main phases and features of garden development in northern Italy from the 15th to 18th centuries. 

  1. Assess the importance of the garden in terms of art, patronage and image during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. 

  1. Place the gardens studied in the context of key events in the political and artistic life of northern and central Italy in the period.

Sources

Core Readings

Recommended: 

  • Atlee, H. (2006) Italian Gardens: A Cultural History, Frances Lincoln. 

  • Masson, G. (1961) Italian Gardens. London: Thames and Hudson (repr. 2010 Garden Art Press). 

Web Sources

  • Monty Don’s Italian Garden TV series is relevant to parts of the course. It can still be found either in DVD or on streaming channels.  

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.