How Art Affects Landscapes

I.) Introduction

A.) Landscape architecture is often inspired by culture and art outside of the normal realm. This inspiration can often help to create innovative and imaginative projects that would otherwise never occur. Three well-known, important, and innovative projects that drew strong influence from other art forms are the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, the Sarco Bosco at Bomarzo, Italy, and Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain.

II.) Alhambra

A.) Background

1.) The Alhambra was designed and built by Moorish architects over 250 years.

2.) Incorporated Spanish and Arab traditions.

B.) Primary artistic influence Ð'- The Quran

1.) Several examples of Quranic influence within the landscape of the Alhambra

a.) Throughout the project there is the use of cruciform waterways. These waterways were a main theme in the descriptions of paradise and the Garden of Eden in Arab beliefs.

b.) Court of the Lions- the design of the court and the use of lions is believed to be related to King Solomon (Rogers p106). Picture from www.answers.com/topic/granadaalhambralions2-jpg.

c.) Designed to be a "paradalistic campground" (Rogers 108), the Alhambra is made up of open spaces were visitors could sit on cushions or blankets and feel that they were experiencing paradise on Earth.

2.) Along with imagery and concepts from the Quran the architects also used aspects of Islamic figural imagery and geometric forms. These forms were used because of the Islamic belief that mathematical order underlies all creation. This is why topiary was avoided in the Alhambra.

3.) Also utilized local pieces, such as orange trees, that while foreign to most Islamic architecture dominated many of the works in Andalusia.

C.) The Alhambra was in all a combination of the literature of the Quran, traditional Islamic architecture and the region landscape of southern Spain.

III.)

A.) Background

1.) Designed by Pier Francesco "Vicino" Orsini as a memorial for his wife Guilia.

2.) Used humanistic writings, mainly epic poems, as a basis for the layout and edifices in the design.

a.) There are many allusions to writers such as Virgil, Aristo, and Dante within the confines of the project.

D.) The layout is designed as a symbolic journey through themes such as love, death, memory, and truth. (Stonard, Intro)

E.) Examples of the literary allusions within the landscape, many of which take the form of sculptures in the living rock.

1.) Wrestling Colossi

a.) The quotation written next to the sculpture reads "If Rhodes previously took pride from its Colossus so by this one my wood is glorified and further I can do no more than I have done" (Stonard, Colossi) this is an allusion to both Aristo's Orlando Furioso. This is combined with the actions of the two Colossi.

2.) War Elephant

a.) The statue of an elephant with war castle on his back crushing a soldier in his trunk is believed to be an allusion to the Book of Maccabees in the Bible (Stonard)

3.) Dragon Fighting a Pair of Lions

a.) another statue on the grounds is likely an allusion to the battle between good and evil

b.) Could also be related to a DaVinci drawing where the lions represent strength and the Dragon, prudence.

4.) Mouth of Hell