The era of antiquity with its architecture, art, and sciences ended its existence at the end of the 4th century. A new time has come - the era of feudalism, or the Middle Ages (5th–15th centuries).
During the Middle Ages, the formation took place European countries, constant internecine wars, uprisings. It was at this time that Christianity was established. Slavery gave way to the feudal system.
The history of medieval architecture is divided into three periods:
1) early medieval (4th–9th centuries);
2) Romanesque (10th–12th centuries);
3) Gothic (late 12th–14th centuries).
Architecture, art, especially park construction, are very vulnerable and require a peaceful environment for their existence, therefore, in conditions of unrest in the world, especially in Europe, the development of landscape art is suspended. The size of gardens is sharply reduced, internal gardens appear within monasteries and at castles, where they like
Decorative and fruit plants, as well as medicinal herbs, were grown in the inner garden. The trees grew in even rows and were mostly of local origin, with some exotic ones too.
The orchards were surrounded by deciduous trees (linden, ash, poplar) around the perimeter for protection.
The prototype of modern flower beds were regular beds with medicinal and ornamental plants: mallow, wormwood, sage, tea, poppy, Bogorodskaya grass, rue, etc. The formation of the beds was in the form of prisms. Their slopes were strengthened with turf, poles or wickerwork.
In the Middle Ages the following appeared main types gardening facilities :
- monastery gardens;
- castle gardens;
- university gardens;
First botanical gardens at academic centers.
IN monastery gardens often two cross-shaped intersecting paths divided them into four parts. In the center of the intersection, a cross was installed or a rose bush was planted in memory of the martyrdom of Christ. Gardens at monasteries had a utilitarian purpose. Aesthetic issues were usually relegated to the background.
The enclosed courtyard inside the monastery, where ornamental plants were grown, was called a cloister.
Castle gardens served for relaxation and meetings, were arranged with decorative elements and were small in size.
Small indoor garden areas have led to the emergence of a new technique - labyrinth – a section of specially entangled garden paths, separated by trimmed greenery (Figure 4). He fit into some geometric shape, usually a square or hexagon.
The technique was borrowed from the builders of temples, who laid out a mosaic pattern on the floor, leading along complex paths, like labyrinthine paths, to the center of the hall. Crawling along such a pattern on their knees, pilgrims imagined that they were making a distant pilgrimage. Subsequently, this idea was transferred to the garden.
The late Middle Ages are characterized by the development of science and the opening of the first universities (in Paris, Oxford, etc.). Reached
High level of development of botany and horticulture. The first began to appear botanical gardens, opened to the general public already in the Renaissance.
Figure 4 – Example of a labyrinth (photo from engraving)
So, features of landscape gardening art of the Middle Ages in central Europe the following:
Simplicity and geometric layout of internal gardens;
Development of a new technique - a labyrinth;
The emergence of the beginnings of botanical gardens and preparations for their opening to the general public by the first half of the 15th century.
Hispano-Moorish (Arab) gardens
Education in the 7th century played an important role in the development of world landscape art. The Arab Caliphate, which united the conquered lands of Palestine, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Iraq and Spain.
Social conditions. Muslim art of the East is distinguished by majestic monumentality, schematism and abstraction.
In the early period of development of Islamic architecture, the premises of mosques, religious educational institutions and other buildings were grouped around a large courtyard decorated with covered galleries. The most famous masterpieces of landscape art that have survived
to this day, are the gardens in Spain.
The Arabs applied the experience of Egypt and Rome in constructing irrigation structures and created a powerful hydraulic system where they used the melting snow on the mountain peaks, turning waterless Spain into a flourishing land.
Formed in Spain new type garden - Spanish-Moorish (patio).
It resembles the garden of a medieval monastery and the atrium-peristyle garden of Ancient Rome. The patio was small in size - from 200 to 1200 m2, surrounded by the walls of the house or a high stone fence and was a continuation of the premises under open air. His plan was distinguished by strict regularity. The main decorative elements were pools, canals, and miniature fountains. Much attention was paid to paving, due to the hot climate of Spain, which did not allow the use of lawn. The paving on the patio was two-color, organized with river or sea pebbles. Majolica (colored tiles) was used. The bottom and edges of reservoirs were lined with it, retaining walls and benches. The main colors are blue, green, yellow, as if softening the heat.
Natural conditions. The climate is hot and arid, which forced the use of irrigation. Frequent dry winds, sand, and dust provided the basis for the construction of powerful walls around it.
Vegetation . Preference was given to evergreen species (boxwood, myrtle), which formed trimmed hedges or borders. They grew thujas, laurels, oleanders, almonds, orange and tangerine trees, and cypresses. The walls of buildings in cool colors served as a good backdrop for lemon trees and jasmine.
Flowers did not play a decisive role in landscaping. They were mainly valued for their aromatic properties. Rose and jasmine were especially popular. Wisteria, magnolia, agave, irises, daffodils, and mallows were widely used.
Water and its meaning. Paradise is identified with an ideal garden and its abundance of water. It usually reached the edge of the reservoir and even overflowed. The correct shape of a container with water in the center of the garden or at the intersection of paths symbolized stability.
The location of the garden was always chosen taking into account the source of water.
Fountains were initially used as filters to purify water from insect larvae, but later, when the variability of flowing water was appreciated, they began to be used for the pleasure of the eyes, and the noise - “as music for the ears.”
Water devices Spanish-Moorish gardens are divided into types:
- channels,
- narrow streams,
- swimming pools,
- fountains.
The specific features of the gardens of this time are:
Compositional relationship between the architecture of the building and the gardens;
Lack of common axial structure.
The interior is so fused with the courtyards that it is not always clear whether the visitor is inside or outside. This is achieved by the fact that the transition from the house to the garden was decorated with arches, and the gardens and interiors were decorated with identical plants.
At the end of the 4th century. The brilliant era of antiquity with its sciences, art, and architecture ended its existence, giving way to a new era - feudalism. The period of time spanning a thousand years between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance in Italy is called the Middle Ages, or the Middle Ages. Change architectural styles does not significantly affect park construction, since during this period the art of gardening, which is the most vulnerable of all types of art and more than others requires a peaceful environment for its existence, suspends its development. It exists in the form small gardens at monasteries and castles, i.e. in areas relatively protected from destruction. The Middle Ages, which lasted almost a thousand years, did not leave exemplary gardens, did not create its own gothic style garden architecture. A gloomy, harsh religion left its mark on the lives of peoples Western Europe and dulled the joy of perceiving the beauty expressed in gardens with beautiful flowers. Gardens first began to appear only in monasteries. The fundamental principle and model of all gardens, according to Christian ideas, is paradise, a garden planted by God, sinless, holy, abundant with everything that a person needs, with all types of trees, plants, and inhabited by animals living peacefully with each other. This original paradise is surrounded by a fence beyond which God banished Adam and Eve after their fall. Therefore, the main “significant” feature Garden of Eden- its fencing. The next indispensable and most characteristic feature of paradise in the ideas of all times was the presence in it of everything that can bring joy not only to the eye, but also to hearing, smell, taste, touch - everything human feelings. The monastery garden - its layout and the plants in it, were endowed with allegorical symbolism. A walled garden from sin and interference dark forces, became a symbol of the Garden of Eden. As a rule, monastery courtyards, enclosed in a rectangle of monastic buildings, were adjacent to the south side of the church. The monastery courtyard, usually square, was divided crosswise into four square parts by narrow paths. In the center, at the intersection of the paths, a well, a fountain, and a small pond were built for aquatic plants and watering the garden, washing or drinking water. The fountain was also a symbol - a symbol of purity of faith, inexhaustible grace or the “tree of life” - the tree of paradise - a small orange or apple tree, and a cross was also installed or a rose bush was planted. Often in the monastery garden there was a small pond, where fish were bred for fasting days. This small garden In the courtyard of the monastery there were usually small trees - fruit or ornamental trees and flowers. Small Orchard inside the monastery courtyard was a symbol of heaven. It often included a monastery cemetery. According to their purpose, the gardens were divided into apothecary gardens with all kinds of herbs and medicinal plants, kitchen gardens with vegetable crops for the needs of the monastery and orchards. Monasteries at that time were, perhaps, the only place where they provided medical care, both monks and pilgrims. On small patches of land, sparingly illuminated by the sun due to high walls and roofs, only a few favorite plants were grown - roses, lilies, carnations, daisies, irises. Since there were few gardens in the Middle Ages, the plants grown were highly valued and strictly protected.
The labyrinth garden is a technique that was formed in monastery gardens and took a strong place in subsequent park construction. Initially, the labyrinth was a pattern, the design of which fit into a circle or hexagon and led to the center in complex ways. In the Middle Ages, the idea of labyrinths was used by the church. For repentant pilgrims, mosaic spiral winding paths were laid out on the floor of the temple, along which believers had to crawl on their knees from the entrance to the temple to the altar to atone for their sins. So from performing the tedious ritual in the church we came to fun walks in the gardens, where the labyrinth was moved, where the paths were separated by high walls of trimmed hedges. From such a labyrinth there was, as a rule, only one or two exits, which could not be so easily discovered. Occupying a small area, this labyrinth created the impression of an endless length of paths and made it possible to take long walks. Perhaps in such labyrinths the hatches of a secret underground passage were hidden. Subsequently, labyrinth gardens became widespread in regular and even landscape parks in Europe. Castle gardens or Feudal type of gardens. Gardens in castles had a special character. Feudal gardens, unlike monastic ones, were smaller in size, located inside castles and fortresses - they were small and closed. Flowers were grown here, there was a source - a well, sometimes a miniature pool or fountain, and almost always a bench in the form of a ledge covered with turf - a technique that later became widespread in parks. They arranged covered alleys of grapes, rose gardens, grew apple trees, as well as flowers planted in flowerbeds according to special designs. The castle gardens were usually under the special supervision of the mistress of the castle and served as a small oasis of calm among the noisy and dense crowd of castle inhabitants that filled its courtyards. They were also grown here medicinal herbs, and poisonous, herbs for decoration and had symbolic meaning. In medieval gardens they planted decorative flowers and bushes, especially roses taken by the crusaders from the Middle East. Sometimes trees grew in the castle gardens - lindens and oaks. Near the defensive fortifications of the castle, “meadows of flowers” were set up for tournaments and social fun. It is at this time that such decorative elements, like flower beds, trellises, pergolas, fashion appears for potted plants. Spicy aromatic plants, flowers and exotic plants were grown in pots. houseplants, which came to Europe after crusades. At the castles of large feudal lords, more extensive gardens were created not only for utilitarian purposes, but also for recreation. Gardens of the late Middle Ages were equipped with various pavilions; hills from which one could look at the surrounding life outside the garden walls - both urban and rural. During this period, labyrinths, which were previously common only in the courtyards of monasteries, also spread. The paths of garden labyrinths are surrounded by walls or bushes. Judging by the frequent depictions of garden work, the gardens were carefully cultivated, the beds and flower beds were enclosed in stone protective walls, the gardens were surrounded either by wooden fences, on which images of heraldic symbols were sometimes painted, or by stone walls with luxurious gates.
At the end of the 4th century. the brilliant era of antiquity with itsThe medieval garden was small in size, usually regular, with the area divided into squares and rectangles.
Gardens of that time were primarily for utilitarian purposes. Medicinal plants were grown in the gardens and fruit and berry crops. To a certain extent, they can be considered a prototype of botanical gardens. A new detail appears in the layout - labyrinths - a network of winding and intertwining paths. This planning motif found application not only in the gardens of the Middle Ages, but also in gardens of later times.
At the castles of large feudal lords, more extensive gardens were created not only for utilitarian purposes, but also for recreation. Decorative elements such as flower beds, trellises, pergolas, etc. appear.
In the first third of the 16th century. many gardens appeared in France. Among them is in Artois, near Paris, on the high bank of the Seine. The Charles V park in the Louvre is famous.
At the end of the Middle Ages, pavilions, gazebos, and swimming pools appeared in the gardens.
Monastic type of gardens.
The layout of the courtyards was regular, based on straightness. Fruit trees, grapes, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants were grown in the monastery gardens. The main features of the monastery type of gardens were their privacy, contemplation, silence, and utility. Some monastery gardens were decorated with trellis arbors and low walls to separate one area from another. Among the monastery gardens, the St. Gallen Garden in Switzerland was especially famous.
Feudal type of gardens.
The gardens of Emperor Charlemagne (768-814) were very famous; they were divided into utilitarian and “amusing” ones. The “amusing” gardens were decorated with lawns, flowers, low trees, birds and a menagerie.
Feudal gardens, unlike monastic ones, were smaller in size and located inside castles and fortresses. They arranged covered alleys of grapes, rose gardens, grew apple trees, as well as flowers planted in flowerbeds according to special designs. Of these gardens, the most famous are the Kremlin garden of Frederick II (1215-1258) in Nuremberg and the royal garden of Charles V (1519-1556) with a plantation of cherries, laurel trees and flower beds of lilies and roses.
In 1525, the first Botanical Garden. Following him, approximately the same gardens appeared in Milan, Venice, Padua, Bologna, Rome, Florence, Paris, Leiden, Wurzburg, Leipzig, Hesse, Regensburg. Along with botanical gardens, private gardens were also established.
With the discovery of America in 1493 and with the development of trade relations with India, the gardens began to fill exotic plants. Fruit growing and the cultivation of medicinal plants became widespread; oranges, laurels, figs, apple trees, cherries, etc. were cultivated in the gardens, and ponds, cascades, pools, fountains, gazebos, and pavilions were also built. Utilitarian gardens gradually turned into decorative ones.
Moorish type of gardens.
At the beginning of the 7th century, Moorish gardens appeared in Europe. They were similar to the ancient Arab ones, but they carried more grace and differed from them in the boldness of their design and the refined grace of their forms. Moorish gardens were divided into external and internal. The external gardens were not luxurious and were intended for household needs. They were planted with fruit trees and mulberries. There was a fountain in the center of each outdoor garden.
The internal gardens were surrounded on all sides by buildings and beautiful extensions in the form of arcades and galleries, which were sometimes in two tiers. Trees and shrubs planted in gardens were not trimmed. The most characteristic gardens of this type were the Alhambra and the Generalife
Fenced by fortress walls, medieval monasteries, castles and cities with their enclosed territories did not contribute to the establishment of large gardens.
Almost no descriptions of medieval gardens have survived. A clear idea of them is given only by images that have survived on the walls of churches, which show that the gardens were occupied small area, had a rectangular shape, adjacent to the houses.
The garden area was surrounded by a stone wall covered with grapes. Inside the garden there were covered alleys and gazebos.
A characteristic feature of a medieval garden was a labyrinth. Plants were planted by variety in small square beds, in linear order. Fragrant flowers (roses, lilies) and medicinal plants were planted.
Landscape art of the Middle Ages. Monastery gardens and medieval regular parksLandscape art of the Middle Ages The Renaissance of the 14th-16th centuries became a definite milestone in the formation of landscape art. An abundance of sculptures appeared in the parks of that era, entire sculptural alleys were created, and artificial reservoirs were built. In the 17th century, classic regular parks with straight ribbons of numerous paths were in fashion. And around the same time, in Europe the concepts of “garden” and “park” began to be separated. Gardens began to be used more for privacy and relaxation, and parks became places for various celebrations with a large number of people. Theatrical performances, concerts, and special celebrations were held in the parks. In the Middle Ages, the main role in setting up gardens was played by monasteries, which owned vast lands with forests, fields and meadows. Behind the monastery wall were hidden entire landscape masterpieces: a decorative orchard, a vegetable garden with beds rectangular shape and, hidden from prying eyes, a heavenly courtyard. The monks cultivated all kinds of plants, first of all, they grew medicinal plants and valuable plant species. Paradise Court was a must integral part monastery complex. There was a real sense of nature here, nurtured by the tradition of the biblical paradise. When the monks worked in the garden, it was believed that they were purifying their souls with an earthly vision of the lost Garden of Eden. What did the courtyard of heaven look like? It was inner space quadrangular in shape, with a source in the center clean water most often, it was a tank for clean water or a well; Sometimes there was a pool for growing fish. The territory of the paradise courtyard was divided by paths to the source into four sections correct form. Very rarely were they planted here low trees or bushes, as a rule, flowers to decorate the monastery church and medicinal herbs were grown in carefully cultivated beds of the paradise courtyard. Since ancient times, each flower has had its own symbolic meaning. For example, a white lily symbolized the purity of the Virgin Mary, a red rose symbolized the shed blood of Christ, White Rose-queen of heaven -Mary, etc. Garden and wildflowers grew in the flowerbeds. We can admire the natural beauty of plants, especially flowers, captured by medieval masters, by looking at wall paintings, icons, manuscripts and embroideries preserved in Gothic monasteries. An ancient indoor garden, depending on the type of planting and purpose, was called: herbarium - a garden specialized in growing medicinal herbs or flowers; gardinum – a kitchen garden with vegetable beds and roots, if possible combined with an orchard; viridarium – a garden for relaxation and entertainment (recreatione et solatio). The decorative orchard had only one function: here one could admire the blooming fruit trees and walked in their shade, often along the banks of a river, pool or pond. The first herbarium with the character of a botanical garden appeared in 1333 in Venice, and soon a similar botanical garden appeared in Prague. Not only palace complexes had their own gardens, but also city secular buildings with own plot land, more extensive gardens were laid out in cities. Some information about what secular gardens looked like in the homes of the nobility and medieval cities comes from poetry, literature, minstrelsy and troubadour songs. Illuminated miniatures and manuscripts contain descriptions of the composition, atmosphere and details of late Gothic gardens. It is safe to say that these gardens have always had a fence, stone walls often supplemented with towers with pavilions, sometimes with a moat with water. Stone, plank or brick paths were laid between the rectangular beds. Among the beds with vegetables and roots, as a rule, they did not forget to create beds with plants for: repelling insects, preparing a “love potion,” and also making poisons. Images of landscape parks are found in medieval paintings. Covered with turf, the low wall was a kind of medieval garden bench. In the middle of the garden there was usually a stone well or fountain with drinking water, sometimes with a swimming pool, as well as a tank for watering plants and a stone table for food. Evergreen trees and bushes were regularly trimmed into bizarre shapes and placed in stone vases. Occasionally in the garden there were labyrinths, the ornament of which was created from low bush, the drawing of which led to the center in complex ways. The living labyrinth was made in the likeness of the patterns on the stone floors of Gothic cathedrals. City gardens were an integral part of the knights' way of life, accompanied by gallant courtship, music and dance. In some gardens that belonged to wealthy owners, colorful birds flew freely, and noble peacocks often walked around. In the copper garden enclosures lived not only warblers, blackbirds and starlings, but also pheasants and wood grouse. In Europe, by the end of the 18th century, the fashionable regular direction of landscapes was replaced by landscape painting, which came from the East. Public parks have become closer to natural nature. The routes of the paths began to be thought out in such a way as to combine places with the most beautiful views. In conclusion, it should be noted that the change in fashion and styles, in any country, did not occur spontaneously. Styles seemed to be layered on top of each other, new trends gradually replaced older trends.
