"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Garden Statuary
"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Garden Statuary Archaic Greeks were well known for developing the first freestanding statuary; up till then, most carvings were constructed out of walls and pillars as reliefs. Younger, appealing male or female (kore) Greeks were the subject matter of most of the statues, or kouros figures. The kouroi, considered by the Greeks to symbolize beauty, had one foot extended out of a strict forward-facing pose and the male statues were always nude, with a strong, sturdy build. In around 650 BC, the differences of the kouroi became life-sized. The Archaic period was tumultuous for the Greeks as they progressed into more sophisticated forms of federal government and art, and obtained more information about the peoples and civilizations outside of Greece. Throughout this time and other durations of historical tumult, encounters often occurred, most notably wars fought between city-states such as the Arcadian wars and the Spartan invasion of Samos.Modern Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots
Modern Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots The amazing or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, as well as supplying drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.Pure functionality was the original purpose of fountains.
Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains operated 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. Serving as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. Bronze or stone masks of animals and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. To demonstrate his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains built to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Indoor plumbing became the key source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Contemporary fountains are used to embellish public spaces, honor individuals or events, and enhance recreational and entertainment events.
Bernini's Earliest Masterpieces
Bernini's Earliest Masterpieces The Barcaccia, Bernini's first fountain, is a striking chef d'oeuvre built at the bottom of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, you will find Roman locals and vacation goers occupying this area to revel in chit chatter and being among other people. Today, the city streets around Bernini's 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 designed the very first water fountain of his career at the behest of Pope Ubano VIII. People can now see the fountain as a depiction of a great ship gradually sinking into the Mediterranean Sea. The great 16th century flooding of the Tevere, which left the entire region inundated with water, was memorialized by the water fountain according to writings from the time. Absenting himself from Italy only once in his life for a prolonged period of time, in 1665 Bernini traveled to France.