The Gardens of the Villa d'Este, Tivoli 1899

Janus la Cour painted this view of The Gardens of the Villa d'Este, Tivoli, in oil on canvas. Here, the artist captures the still and tranquil aura of the Italian Renaissance garden. The image presents a formal garden with its ordered arrangement of plants, water features, and classical ornaments. It revives historical associations through these visual codes. The villa itself, located near Rome, was once the residence of a Cardinal. It is a place redolent with the cultural authority of the Catholic Church and of the aristocratic class. The very act of painting such a place reinforces the power of these institutions. By the 19th century, the villa had become a popular destination for tourists and artists alike. One might ask, is la Cour celebrating the values of a bygone era, or simply catering to the taste of a growing art market for romantic views? To truly understand the painting, we need to delve into the social history of both Denmark, where la Cour was from, and Italy. Art historians draw on travel journals, exhibition reviews, and other archival material to help us understand the meaning of such works.