 |
||
Topiaries: Life Imitating Art
A brief history of topiaries As they did with mythology, architecture, sculpture, and other art forms, the Roman Empire stole the idea of topiary from the Greeks (though in fairness, the Greeks likely got the idea from the Persians). Our word topiary began as the Greek word topia, frescoes commonly enhanced by the use of clipped trees. The Romans used the Latin word topiaries to denote an ornamental landscape gardener or fresco painter. Topiary was rediscovered during the Italian Renaissance, from whence it spread to 17th century Europe. In Japan, the art of topiary (known there as karikomi) flourished on its own, notably under Kobori Enshu, a 17th century master of tea, garden design, architecture, and poetry. Topiary designs and styles Many of the most extraordinary gardens in the world are populated by topiaries. Some topiary gardens are constructed like menageries, with shrubs carefully cultivated to resemble camels, gorillas, giraffes, and other exotic animals. There is even a park in Columbus, OH, with topiaries arranged to imitate the famous impressionist painting by Georges Seurat, A Sunday On The Island Of La Grande Jatte (the topiaries include 54 people, eight boats, three dogs, a monkey, and a cat). Silk topiaries may not be so unusual as an enormous French painting made from plants, but artificial topiaries come in many decorative styles and designs, including balls and spirals and other geometric and abstract forms. Artificial topiaries are excellent complements to ornamental gardens, or take advantage of their artificiality by positioning your silk topiaries in an art room or living room. |
