Greece: Architectural Sculpture

Greece: Architectural Sculpture Sculptors ornamented the complex columns and archways with renderings of the gods until the time came to a close and most Greeks had begun to think of their religion as superstitious rather than sacred; at that time, it became more standard for sculptors be compensated to portray everyday individuals as well. Rich individuals would sometimes commission a rendering of their forefathers for their large family burial tombs; portraiture also became common and would be appropriated by the Romans upon their acquisition of Greek society. A point of aesthetic development, the use of sculpture and other art forms morphed during the Greek Classical period, so it is not entirely accurate to say that the arts served only one function. Whether to fulfill a visual yearning or to celebrate the figures of religion, Greek sculpture was an inventive practice in the ancient world, which could be what draws our interest today.

The Dissemination of Water Feature Design Innovation

The Dissemination of Water Feature Design Innovation Dissemination Water Feature Design Innovation 6572257254642008381.jpg

Throughout Europe, the principal means of dissiminating practical hydraulic information and fountain design ideas were the circulated papers and illustrated books of the day, which added to the development of scientific technology. An un-named French fountain designer was an internationally famed hydraulic innovator in the late 1500's. His experience in developing landscapes and grottoes with integrated and ingenious water features began in Italy and with commissions in Brussels, London and Germany. “The Principles of Moving Forces”, a publication that turned into the essential text on hydraulic technology and engineering, was authored by him toward the end of his lifetime in France. Replacing key hydraulic advancements of classical antiquity, the book also highlights modern hydraulic technologies. Archimedes, the creator of the water screw, had his work featured and these integrated a mechanical means to move water. An ornamental spring with the sun heating up the water in two containers hidden in an adjacent area was shown in one illustration. The heated water expands and then ascends and shuts the water lines thereby triggering the water fountain. Pumps, water wheels, water attributes and backyard pond concepts are documented in the text.