The Villa Borghese and its grounds was a familiar sight to French artists because it bordered the Villa Medici, which housed the French Academy beginning in 1803. Both of these grand residences were located on Il Pincio, one of the seven hills of Rome. The term villa in the title refers to a princely house set in large gardens. An orangerie was an early type of greenhouse used to shelter tender plants, especially oranges, during the winter months.