Statues As a Staple of Vintage Art in Archaic Greece

Statues As a Staple of Vintage Art in Archaic Greece The initial freestanding sculpture was designed by the Archaic Greeks, a notable success since until then the sole carvings in existence were reliefs cut into walls and columns. For the most part the statues, or kouros figures, were of young and nice-looking male or female (kore) Greeks. The kouroi, regarded by the Greeks to symbolize beauty, had one foot extended out of a strict forward-facing pose and the male statues were always undressed, with a compelling, sturdy shape. Life-sized versions of the kouroi appeared beginning in 650 BC. During the Archaic period, a big time of change, the Greeks were developing new sorts of government, expressions of art, and a deeper understanding of people and cultures outside Greece. During this time and other periods of historic tumult, encounters often took place, most notably battles fought between city-states such as the Arcadian wars and the Spartan infiltration of Samos.

The Magificent First Wonders by Bernini

The Magificent First Wonders by Bernini The Barcaccia, Bernini's very first fountain, is a magnificent chef d'oeuvre built at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. This area continues to be filled with Roman locals and tourists who enjoy exchanging gossip or going over the day's news. Today, the city streets around Bernini's fountain are a trendy place where people go to meet, something which the artist would have been pleased to learn. In around 1630, Pope Urbano VIII helped Bernini start off his professional life with the construction of his very first water fountain. People can now see the fountain as a depiction of a commanding ship gradually sinking into the Mediterranean Sea. Period writings dating back to the 16th century indicate that the fountain was built as a monument to those who lost their lives in the great flooding of the Tevere. In 1665, France was graced by Bernini's one-and-only lengthy voyage outside of Italy.