Saratoga Springs in Saratoga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Italian Renaissance Gardens
Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, New York
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019
1. The Italian Renaissance Gardens Marker
Inscription.
The Italian Renaissance Gardens. Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, New York. , In 1900, Richard Canfield, owner of the Canfield Casino, hosted a visit from his friend Charles W Eliot, president of Harvard University. As Eliot's hobby was garden landscaping, he suggested that the park be improved by the addition of gardens and sculptures, On Eliot's recommendation, Canfield hired Clarence Luce, a well known landscape architect from Boston and New York, to design the gardens in 1902-03. The gardens were built by Frank DeFrank, Canfield's head gardener, following Luce's plans and were opened to the public in 1905.
In 1900, Richard Canfield, owner of the Canfield Casino, hosted a visit from his friend Charles W Eliot, president of Harvard University. As Eliot's hobby was garden landscaping, he suggested that the park be improved by the addition of gardens and sculptures
On Eliot's recommendation, Canfield hired Clarence Luce, a well known landscape architect from Boston and New York, to design the gardens in 1902-03. The gardens were built by Frank DeFrank, Canfield's head gardener, following Luce's plans and were opened to the public in 1905.
Erected by Saratoga Springs History Museum, Skidmore College Department of Classics, Grant Graphics.
Location. 43° 4.749′ N, 73° 46.989′ W. Marker is in Saratoga Springs, New York, in Saratoga County. Marker can be reached from Spring Street. In Congress Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saratoga Springs NY 12866, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. A series of three signs explaining the gardens
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019
2. The Triton Pool
In Greek mythology, Triton was the son of Poseidon (Roman name, Neptune), the god of the sea. Triton was half dolphin and half man. He created winds at Poseidon's bidding by coming tothe surface of the sea and blowing through a conch shell.
The representations here are probably based upon a painting by Annibale Carrafi, an early Baroque artist who resided in Bologna, Italy. It is believed that they illustratea story told in Virgil's Aeneid in which Triton was challenged to a contest by Misenus, the Trojan trumpeter for Aeneas. Triton promptly tossed Misenus into the sea for his arrogance.
The statues were carved from Carrara marble by an unknown Italian artist.The quarry in Italy that produces this marble has been used since Roman times. Carrara was also the source of much of the marble used by Michelangelo to produce many of his famous works, including the David in Florence and the Pieta in Rome. Local residents often refer to the Tritons as "Spit and Spat."
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019
3. Looking up path to Triton Pool and Circle
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019
4. The Palladian Circle
The rear garden is arranged on a Palladian Circle, believed to be based upon the gardens of a former Papal palace in Rome, Italy. With the sundial marking the center of the circle, four sculptures known as herms are arranged on the perimeter. Two of the four sculptures are of a satyr, probably Pan, the Greek god of the forest.
In ancient Greece, herms were originally used as boundary markers and featured the Greek god Hermes, giving rise to the term. Although this type of sculpture was later adapted for uses other than boundary markers, losing the connection with Hermes, the word "herms" was still used to describe this type of artwork.
The other two sculptures depict maenads, female followers of Dionysus (Roman name, Bachuus), the god of revelry and wine. Maenads reveled with Dionysus and were constantly being chased by Pan and his satyrs, who could never catch them. This story from Greek mythology seems to form the basis of the garden plan. The sundial in the center is original, the herms are replicas.
Photographed By Steve Stoessel, March 29, 2019
5. Palladian Circle
Photographed By Terry Ashmore, October 6, 2023
6. The Italian Renaissance Gardens Statue image
Photographed By Terry Ashmore, October 6, 2023
7. The Italian Renaissance Gardens Statue
Photographed By Terry Ashmore, October 6, 2023
8. The Italian Renaissance Gardens Spit and Spat
Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 451 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 31, 2019, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. 6, 7, 8. submitted on January 1, 2024, by Terry Ashmore of Gardner, Massachusetts. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.