"Primitive" Greek Artwork: Large Statuary
"Primitive" Greek Artwork: Large Statuary Archaic Greeks were renowned for developing the first freestanding statuary; up till then, most carvings were made out of 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 stiff, forward facing positions with one foot outstretched, and the male statues were usually nude, muscular, and athletic. In about 650 BC, the variations of the kouroi became life-sized. Throughout the Archaic time, a big time of changes, the Greeks were evolving new sorts of government, expressions of art, and a greater awareness of people and cultures outside Greece. However, these clashes did little to impede the development of the Greek civilization.Modern Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots
Modern Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots The incredible construction of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to complete your home.From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to provide potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains operated using 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. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. To demonstrate his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles.
Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to exalt their positions by adding decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
The end of the 19th century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern fountains are used to embellish public spaces, honor individuals or events, and enhance recreational and entertainment events.
Outdoor Fountains As Water Features
Outdoor Fountains As Water Features A water feature is one which is a big element through which water runs. The broad variety of models available range from a simple suspended wall fountain to an elaborate courtyard tiered fountain. Given that they are so versatile, these decorative elements can be placed either in your backyard or inside your home. Ponds and swimming pools are also regarded as water elements.
Garden wall fountains are worthwhile additions to your living areas such as yards, yoga studios, cozy patios, apartment verandas, or office buildings. In addition to helping you relax, both sight and sound are enticed by the comforting sounds of a water fountain. Their aesthetically pleasing form accentuates the interior design of any living space. The water’s comforting sounds lead to a sense of tranquility, drown out unpleasant noises, and provide a wonderful water display.
The Source of Modern Day Fountains
The Source of Modern Day Fountains Himself a learned man, Pope Nicholas V led the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 till 1455 and was responsible for the translation of hundreds of age-old texts from their original Greek into Latin. He undertook the beautification of Rome to turn it into the worthy seat of the Christian world. In 1453 the Pope commissioned the repairing of the Aqua Vergine, an historic Roman aqueduct which had carried clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away. Building a mostra, a grandiose celebratory fountain built by ancient Romans to memorialize the arrival point of an aqueduct, was a tradition revived by Nicholas V. At the behest of the Pope, architect Leon Battista Alberti undertook the construction of a wall fountain in the spot where we now find the Trevi Fountain. The water which eventually furnished the Trevi Fountain as well as the acclaimed baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona came from the modified aqueduct which he had renovated.