«The way out from the villa to the garden usually conformed to the ancient Roman model of a pillared portico opening on to wide terrace, commanding some beautiful view of enclosure or distance. The site of the villa was usually chosen on a mountain slope, or in such a place as would afford a bountiful supply of water by natural gravitation, in order to feed the many fountains, pools and rills. The greatest sculptors were the designers of the garden fountains, with their groups of Tritons, of the vases, finials, benches, statues, urns, gazebos, wall fountains, and of the many gods of the ancient mythology, whose statues, set in niches of clipped greenery adorned the shady ways and other portions of the garden design.»