Archaic Greek Art: Outdoor Statuary
Archaic Greek Art: Outdoor Statuary Up right up until the Archaic Greeks provided the 1st freestanding sculpture, a remarkable achievement, carvings had primarily been completed in walls and pillars as reliefs. Most of these freestanding sculptures were what is known as kouros figures, statues of young, attractive male or female (kore) Greeks. Considered by Greeks to represent beauty, the kouroi were formed into inflexible, forward facing positions with one foot outstretched, and the male statues were always nude, muscular, and athletic. In around 650 BC, the differences of the kouroi became life-sized. The Archaic period was an incredible time of transformation for the Greeks as they extended into new forms of government, created novel expressions of art, and attained knowledge of the men and women and cultures outside of Greece. However, these battles did little to hinder the development of the Greek civilization.Modern Garden Decor: Fountains and their Roots
Modern Garden Decor: Fountains and their Roots
A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also propel water high into the air for a noteworthy effect. From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains functioned using the force of gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Artists thought of fountains as amazing additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and honor the artist responsible for creating it. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains made to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Beautifying city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Fountains
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Fountains In Rome’s city center, there are countless famous public fountains. One of the greatest sculptors and designers of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed, conceptualized and constructed almost all of them. His abilities as a water feature developer and also as a city designer, are observable throughout the streets of Rome. Bernini's father, a celebrated Florentine sculptor, guided his young son, and they finally settled in Rome, to fully express their artwork in the form of community water features and water features.
The juvenile Bernini was an exemplary employee and earned compliments and patronage of important painters as well as popes. Originally he was recognized for his sculpting skills. Working effortlessly with Roman marble, he utilized a base of knowledge in the classic Greek architecture, most notably in the Vatican. He was influenced by many great artists, however, Michelangelo had the biggest impact on his work.