Gardens of the Roman World [Hardcover]

Patrick Bowe (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0892367407 | ISBN-13: 978-0892367405 | Publication Date: September 1, 2004 | Edition: 1

Roman gardens are an essential part of Western garden history. Using a wide range of literary and archaeological sources, Patrick Bowe describes the design, uses and features of gardens across the Roman Empire, from Africa and the Middle East to Britain. He examines descriptions by Roman authors such as Cicero and Pliny of their own gardens, excavations of imperial palaces, city courtyard gardens and provincial rural estates, as well as contemporary depictions of gardens in wall paintings at Pompeii. The book goes on to explore the influence of these gardens through the centuries: on Italian Renaissance gardens, 19th-century neoclassical gardens and modern examples, such as the famous gardens at the Getty Villa in Malibu.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Inspired by the ancient traditions of Near Eastern, Greek, and Egyptian gardens, Roman gardens are to this day an important influence upon garden and landscape design. Bowe looks to the breathtaking accomplishments of Pompeii, Hadrian's Villa, and Herculaneum, using these archaeological sites to set the stage for his discussion of the development of Roman gardens. A lavish array of photographs helps to illustrate Bowe's finely detailed history, producing a reverie where one can feel the heat radiating from the sun-drenched ruins and imagine the resinous fragrance of Mediterranean plants. Images of reconstructed frescoes depict the elaborate architectural devices and ornamentation that characterized Roman gardens, in which trelliswork and mosaic floors, along with grand belvederes, fountains, and colonnades, shape the space. Flora like Madonna lilies, morning glories, and citrus trees appear as examples of specimens cultivated at the time. Bowe has escorted dozens of garden tours, and here he invites readers to traipse across continents from Turkey's Ephesus to England's Stourhead to the Getty Villa in Malibu, California, for an unforgettable journey. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Patrick Bowe is a garden designer, author and historian. He has led dozens of garden tours to Italy, Greece and other Mediterranean countries. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: J. Paul Getty Museum; 1 edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892367407
• ISBN-13: 978-0892367405
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 10 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,104 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and informative......, June 29, 2005

By 

Dianne Foster "Di" (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Gardens of the Roman World (Hardcover)

Over the centuries during and since Rome ruled the Western world, Roman gardens and villas were copied - while they were extant, and then again when they were rediscovered in ruins. Designs from the grounds at Hadrian's villa in Tivoli, frescos depicting the gardens of the House of the Golden Bracelet unearthed in Pompeii, and the excavated grounds of Tiberius' villa at Sperlonga all indicate the Romans garnered ideas from ancient Persia, Greece, Egypt and elsewhere and in turn provided the inspiration for designs executed in later centuries by other artists.

Under the tutelage of Rome, structures and grounds such as those at the Villa Brioni in Croatia, Sabratha, Leptis Magna in Libya, and outposts in Morocco, Tunisia, England were developed as part of the Roman experience. This book suggests these structures and others are related to the "Great Houses"of 18th Century England, the Alhambra in Spain, and the J.Paul Getty Museum in Malibu.

This beautiful book, containing hundreds of color photos, captures the essence of THE GARDENS OF THE ROMAN WORLD -- Another fine art book for your collection.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece in every respect, September 22, 2005

By 

Bruce Brocka (Quad Cities) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gardens of the Roman World (Hardcover)

Like many works published by the Getty, this book, simply put, is stunning. An absolute must own for fans of roman history, landscape history, or those seeking an informative, well illustrated, well produced book.

You needn't be an historian to appreciate this work.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gardens of the Roman World, July 1, 2011

By 

Harrison R.T.Davis (TROY, NY, US) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Gardens of the Roman World (Hardcover)

A Superb Book/well worth the money/showing Rome's view of its world,
with NATURE as a part of THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS.

THIS ORDER OF THINGS IS SUITABLE FOR OUR USE--TODAY, TOMORROW, AND
FOREVER!!

Marcus Aurelius spoke of THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS--as a centerpiece
for many of his writings & thoughts... .. .