"
[The gardens of Wilton were illustrated by a series of twenty-six
folio copper plates, with the following title; "Le Jardin De Wilton,
construct par le tr?s noble et tr?s p. seigneur Philip Comte
Pembroke et Montgomeri. Isaac de Caux invt." The above description is
copied from one of these plates. Solomon de Caus was architect and
engineer to the Elector Palatine, and constructed the gardens at
Heidelberg in 1619. Walpole infers that Isaac and Solomon de Caus were
brothers, and that they erected, in conjunction with each other, "the
porticos and loggias of Gorhambury, and part of Campden house, near
Kensington." (Anecdotes of Painting.) As the engravings of Wilton
gardens bear the name of Isaac, he had probably some share in the
arrangement of the grounds, and perhaps also in building the house. In
Campbell's Vitruvius Britannicus, vols. ii. and iii. are several
views, plans, and sections of Wilton House and grounds. - J. B.]
The grotto is paved with black and white marble; the roofe is vaulted.
The figures of the tritons, &c. are in bas-relieve, of white marble,
excellently well wrought. Here is a fine jeddeau and nightingale
pipes. Monsieur de Caus had here a contrivance, by the turning of a
cock, to shew three rainbowes, the secret whereof he did keep to
himself; he would not let the gardener, who shewes it to strangers,
know how to doe it; and so, upon his death, it is lost. The grott and
pipes did cost ten thousand pounds.
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