ANHALT GARDENS.
I !
ag,
aiul is about 85 paces long ancl 75 broad. 'I'lie
The orchard lias the form of a reetiingnlar oblong,wall all which surrounds it is terraced torniced and aiurplantecl planted with
evergreens on tho outside. The whole of this
tVuit-gardcn is surrounded by a wide ...................... cltteh, with th large gateways.gateways,
There is also a walled kltehen'gardcn,
and two flower-gardens, in tlio fonnation and . il arrangement of
which, th e Imagination of the artist is
admirably displayed, and which ure enrlelied •Icliecl and ancl studded witli with llowers of evcffv every ki
kind in tho greatest
profusion. The principal objects of attraction in tliis garden arc the temples of Voi
the romantic region of ttic grottoes.
The Temple of Flora Is o fth e modern Doric order, and has in IVoiit four pillars, the intei
arc closed at the base witli iron trellises. Tlie pillars support a gable*, on the pedimcir
a bas-relief representing a sacrifice to Flora. Tlie view from th e portico of the temple i
strikingly resembles a scone in lamibarcly.
The large grotto is, lighted by vaulted window-like apertures. Around the wall are stone seats, in
the centre there is a stone table, and in a niche a sepulchral urn. It is approaelied througli a subterraneous
id Flora, and
•vals of which
int of which is
very fine, and
passage, the ontranco to whicli is by some steps roiiglily hewn out of tho rock. At the farther
extremity of this passage, anotlier of tho same kind to tho riglit ia dimly seen by the glimmering light
whicli alone penetrates through the obscurity. Tliis leads to an open round space, stiadcd by planes
and other trees, and surrounded by a black roeky wall, ovortoiiped by a high dark evergreen thicket.
On one side stand tlic ruins of an altar, composed, in a rude style, of quarry stones. Lc*aviiig this
place, which is called tlio He rmit’s Oratory, by a subterraneous passage on the left, we come to another,
similar to the former, but larger, and enclosed by a circular wall of unhewn quarry stone. Here another
allegory begins.
The mystic quarter ofthe Tanplc o f Venus. The stranger enters this region by tlie cell of initiation,
wliich is formed of rough stone, rising on the lelt of the circular wall, and is shaded by various kinds
of trees. Two paths lead from it. T h e ono on the right indicates the frivolous, wearisome course of
the man who is without knowledge and mental cultivation. He who proceeds by it ascends the rising
ground by a rough, broken patli, ceaselessly wandering to and fro, b u t still to no punióse, and always
wanting the pleasure of agreeable variety. At last lie reaches th e height of th e mound, where, looking
sideways over some bushes, he obtains a glimpse of the dome of tho Tomj^ile of Venus. The otlu-r
path, to tho left, is the mystic road to be pursued by tlic pupil of wisdom. This path soon tu rn s into a
cavern, which is, a t first, quite dark, lartlier in, a glimmering light comes from above tlirongh the roof,
and still farther, it is more brightly illumined by cavities high in the sides. In this migration wo seem
to hear the language of mysteries, to tread within Proserpine’s threshold, and to stand upon tho
boundary which separates life from death. At length, issuing from the cavern, wc enter a beautiful
valley, whoso rocky sides are adorned with a bright green verdure. The first object wliich here catches
the eye is a round temple on a rock whicli directly faces tlie outlet. This is the iny.stic sanctum sanctorum
of the celestial Venus, who, a t the first origin of things, assisted by the mighty power of lier
son, communicated to all races of beings a fructifying impulse.
'Ttoo grottoes are perceived, on entering a high vaulted opening in tho rock on which the temple
stands. T h a t to the right, like tho temple under which it is situated, is round, and is dedicated to
Vulcan, tho god of fire, and husband of Venus. It contains, besides the flaming altar of tlie god of lire,
which stands in tlie middle, several movable transparent pictures, on mythological subjects, serving for
the walls and ceiling. These pictures represent emblematically the operation of th e elements of lire
and earth. The uinbilieal aperture in tho vaulted ceiling is immediately under tlie hollow pedestal of
the statue of Venus. This pedestal, which is provided with yellow coloured nanes of glass, forms u
kind of lantern, from whieh a soil liglit, as from the sun in an eclipse, falls into the grotto.
The. other g-r««o, wliich is consecrated to Neptune and iEolus, is quadrangular. Opposite to the
entrance, near the roof, there is a large semicircular opening, taking in the wliolc broadtli of the grotto,
and reached by ascending some steps. Ou looking through this aperture, there appears nothing, as far
as the eye can reach, but meadows, which extend from tlie forest of Wörlitz to the embankment of tiie
Elbe, upon which the pantheon rises to view in the distance. In spring and autumn, when the Elbe
overflows its banks, these meadows are frequently inundated as high as th e embankment; and tlie view
presents only a large surface of water encircled by woodlands. The reflection of this immense slieet ot
water in tho mirrors placed in tho walls forms an excellent imago of th e aqueous element; and the
statue of the god of the sea in the middle of the grotto seems rising out of tlio waves. The magic tones
of an AColian lyre, which stands in a circular cavity, add to the charm. Touched only by the winged
and airy fingers of the god of the winds, it announces to all, in divino melodies, the operation of the
atmosiilicric element.
The Temple of Venus Is a monoptcron, that Is, merely a circular colonnade without a cellar. It is of
the Doric order, and is built entirely of sandstone. It stands upon an elevation which is ascended by
a flight of steps. The pillars, whicii are fluted, are ten in m n n b c r; they are two feet in diameter, and
fourteen feet high. Tlie entablature is two feet h ig h ; tho dome seven feet high, and thirteen feet in
diameter. Hound tho dome are circular gradations, like benches or steps, of niie()ual height, rcacliing
nearly to the top. Tho building has a brownish-yellow colour, owing to an oily tinge which has been
given to tho stone of which it is built, and also to its being roofed witli copper. The statue in the
centre of tlie temple is a cast from tlie Modicean Venus.
The. Weidenheger Garden. This garden has a soutli-cast aspect, and lies partly on the margin nf the
lake, behind th e nymphtcura, and partly on the tongue of land I'onned by the south arm of the lake and
tlic long canal. It is bounded on tlio north by Schoch’s garden, on the east by the embankment of the
lilbe, on tho south by fields tenanted b y th e prince’s subjects, and on tlie west b y th e lake. It is
separated from th e groimds of tho tenants principally by a tliiek plantation, and, in many places, by
■ ’ - - “ d a lialf broad. There is a ferry-boat between this and tlio palace garden,
irdor only one foot and
bank to the other, by means of which anyperson may ferry himself across.
I Sehocli’s garden to the long canal, consists almost entirely
a roiie being extended from one b
T h a t p art of th e garden which extends frqii
... ,................... , g paths, taking in distant prospects. vSomc of these paths
load to picturesque spots in the garden, others to the surrounding villages. T h e other part, situated on
the tongue of land, contains both enclosed and open divisions; nevertheless, the general characteristic
of this garden is privacy. An alley of poplars extends In a straiglit line from th e lake to the embankment
of the Elbe, a t the end of which is seen tho Spinarius.
The long canal, on each side of which Lombardy poplars are planted, extends In a straight line from
th e gulf formed b y th e lake behind the nymphamin, to th e large piece of water near the pantheon.
Over th e mouth ol th e canal, in the lake, a pontoon bridge is la id ; and over the otlier mouth, opening
into ttie large piece of water, there is an iron arched bridge, which, liaving its balustrade gilded, and
in the form of rays, is named tho Bridge o fth e Sun. Near this is a large lawn, almost equal in size and
similar in form to th e tongue of land. It is enclosed all round by a thick plantation, except a t one end,
where it is open, and there a narrow stream enters from the lake. Amidst some clusters ot trees, whicli
constantly shed over this tranquil .spot a kind-of groen twiliglit, tliis inlet forms a round basin, whose
destination for a batli is obvious a t first sight. Tho whole is siirrouiulod by a road nboiimlmg m
beautiful prospects. Behind a circle of rose bushes on tlio bank of tho canal, there is a statue of a
crouching Venus. To a poetic fancy it would seem th a t the goddess, scared from the bath by unexpected
intruders, and stoiiped in hor llight by tho lake, had concealed herself behind tlio roses on its
bank. Tliis statue, wliicli is above the natural size, is by Pfeifer. Tho original is in the Villa do’
Medici. There is also at tlie farther end of tho largo nursery a statue of tho Spinarius extracting the
155
c S S T n ■"
to tho water-mill ferry; and on the west bv the bank rh i i.nun f t l>»l’l''r »venue leading
volcano a t the point of the lake.
iiiguishes th e formation of this
d the beauty o fth 'O »,r Tirof..- e pr in citp. al o b, ie,c1ts
the antique.
land of til
The iron 6.
balustrade, wb
S- K Ä i t t S i ? l ‘¿ S t u S l ñ r i w o í “™ “” iL E l 'Z L t 'E
the inequality of its soil, nVwell as for tli
’ irches, und weeping willows, intermixed ................
idea th at we
m a resting-place for the dead nati
lomalc scull,turojUn relief, are shakiuj, l.a.uls In the attitude o f“,,artiuB." A,
, :cdars, and i
¡tono ci,.,H,s,-„i,ici.;viröi 5?rtrMrs;raK’S ^ ^
the h c a f to f the figures, to the lollowing clioct: “ Mortal arc we aiu
Sorrowws a“nZd. jIoTys ar Lhd tocond Islaml lies u
It is larger than tliolibrmL.,..
planted with tall alders, whose
the cntrAancc to a grotto.
I'he Amelia Grotto derives it:
r tiie water, a male and
inscription is extended
mortal all our wishes,
r the red guard-house.
d rounder, althoiigli it p ro je c t/ in to ‘the^wató
extended brandies, hanging down to the surfac
a long point of land
; of the water, conceal
cape paintings; on examination, however,
. .. . . . . ------’Cl Irom a cavern near Weimar, which in
consequence Ol their various colours and peculiar sitiiatioi
a t a certain distance produce a complete illusion. From
hpii.se and the palace, though really far removed from ead
di.stant town.wlndi extends in a semicircle between tliem, is
the grotto, so that the two objects scorn to be separated <
pi lar on the riglit, a spiral staircase is constructed w
arbour lormed of ironwork, in imitation of vine brandu*
il peculiar situation, incrusted as they are with moss, grass ¿ c
scat placed under tlie Venus, tho coimeil-’
tlicr, ajiiiear to be contiguous ; because the
hem, IS covered by tlie jiillar of tlie loll aiiKlc of
only bv Its slender breadth. Wiiliin tlio angular
vhidi leads to tlio roof, where there is a sort of
les. !■ routing this arbour are busts of Anacreon
directions, in imitation of those in the promontory of Misenum, whidi Marci
-diestra, including the space appropriated
' °’” ' ’''>sed longer exist, forms a
measuring in diameter twenty-
to two small staircases, and the
ng becndeeaycd by time. Tlie amjihi-
Thc theatre is, of course, intended to appear in ruiu;
boundary {thejinitio nrosecmii) i.s supposed no 'iongei-- to cx'ik foriiv
■antiful oval spot of grcen-sward, hero and there shaded bv trees ............. ' -
y one.the remaining part of tlie
The
ciBhl foot by tliirty-onc. All till, romiiiiiing i„irt o l the staBe,,
iiulor p arto l tho outer surroimdingwall, has the appearanccof lun