Classic Greece: The Roots of Outdoor Statue Design

Classic Greece: The Roots of Outdoor Statue Design Historically, the vast majority of sculptors were paid by the temples to decorate the elaborate pillars and archways with renderings of the gods, but as the period came to a close it became more accepted for sculptors to portray regular people as well simply because many Greeks had begun to think of their institution as superstitious rather than sacred. Affluent families would sometimes commission a rendering of their ancestors for their big family burial tombs; portraiture also became prevalent and would be appropriated by the Romans upon their acquisition of Greek society. Over the many years of The Greek Classical period, a time of aesthetic progress, the use of sculpture and other art forms greatly improved, so it is erroneous to think that the arts served merely one purpose. It may possibly be the advanced quality of Greek sculpture that captivates our eye today; it was on a leading-edge practice of the ancient world regardless of whether it was created for religious reasons or artistic pleasure.

Bernini: The Master of Italy's Most Impressive Fountains

Bernini: The Master of Italy's Most Impressive Fountains The Barcaccia, a stunning fountain built at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna, was Bernini's earliest water fountain. This spot continues to be filled with Roman locals and visitors who like to exchanging gossip or going over the day's news. Today, the city streets surrounding Bernini's water fountain are a trendy area where people go to meet, something which the artist would have been pleased to learn. In about 1630, the great artist built the very first fountain of his career at the behest of Pope Ubano VIII. People can now see the fountain as an illustration of a commanding ship slowly sinking into the Mediterranean. The great 16th century flood of the Tevere, which left the entire region inundated with water, was memorialized by the water fountain according to writings from the time. In 1665 Bernini traveled to France, in what was to be his sole prolonged absence from Italy.