Palaces were designed (not constructed) by architects like Alberti,
possessing knowledge of Vitruvius, the Pythaogreans and their theories
of harmonic harmony, and Platonic ideals. Alberti held the view that
palace gardens were an aesthetic extension of Palace architecture. This
is discussed at length in the area of architecture. However, the palace
garden design was also in harmony with the kind of dances that took
place in palace gardens. Renaissance gardens were compatible with
Renaissance dance: both being a mix of symmetric linear and circular
areas, including triangles, squares, etc. Baroque gardens were compatible
with Baroque dance: "S", "Z" figures, arabesques, with parterres in broderie.
The dances of these aristocrats emphasized proper "decorum", as
described by Baldassare Castiglione. Such "decorum" was central to
the political culture of the time. This is discussed at length in the area
of dance. People such as Salomon de Caus and Inigo Jones not only designed
(not contsructed) such politically and aesthetically informed gardens, they
also included "trompe l'oeil" as well as auotmata in these gardens.
This (linear perspective) is discussed at length in the area of art.
Automata (machines) were commonly deployed in Baroque theatre, thus it
should not come as a surprise to find automata in gardens! Baroque theatre
machinery is dicussed at length in the section about Baroque theatre. Just as automata were
deployed in theatres, so were automata designed and deployed in palace gardens.
Garden automata were powered by water wheels. These automata moved, and
included fountains, revolving islands and statuary, subliminal musical
instruments. True to the times, clocks were automata too.
1 Automata soon gave
rise to a philosopher that viewed the universe as an automaton: a clockwork
universe, with clockwork order supporting the state political and military
viewpoint. (Armies marched and attacked in squares, dressed uniformly, following
orders like automata, just as the commissioned officers were trained to do when
taught dancing. This military dance was ordered by ordered music, too.)
Military automata, including cavalry, are discussed at some length at the end
of the section about dance.
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