Originally published in 1961 as a complementary study to Geoffrey Jellicoe's architectural work, Italian Gardens of the Renaissance, this book is intended to present a layman's point of view on the subject, providing immediate first impressions of the countless pleasures that are a feast to the senses, whilst providing a comprehensive background to the gardens, their antecedents and history. Tracing a line through the history and topography of Italy, Mary Johnson - writing under the pseudonym of Georgina Masson - picks out the finest examples of gardens dating from the Renaissance, Mannerist and Baroque periods. Primarily, it is a masterpiece of photography, evoking memories for those who have already visited the gardens and persuasive to those who have not. Secondly, it is a very able study of the history of Italian gardens from their inception in ancient Rome to the triumphs of the Baroque; no one who encountered Mary when on the full flight of research will forget her total dedication to the subject. Contents: 1: Roman Gardens; 2: Medieval and Early Humanist Gardens; 3: Tuscan Gardens; 4: Roman Renaissance Gardens; 5: Gardens of the Marche and Veneto; 6: The Gardens of Northern Italy.