Posts Tagged ‘art’
The History Of The Early Roman Empire
November 12, 2011
According to historical data, the Roman city was founded in the year 753 B.C. Even so, should you hear the myths and stories, you will realize that the beginning of Rome took place during the time of Aeneas, who was goddess Venus’ son.
After Troy was defeated, Aeneas began traveling across the place. He made a stop at Carthage where he had an affair with Queen Dido. Following he left, the queen ended up committing suicide. Aeneas’ journey arrived to an end in Italy. He then got married, went on to become a king and was instrumental in founding a city.
Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers, were descendants of Aeneas. The two brothers have already been credited for establishing Rome. The brothers had been heirs of King Numitor’s kingdom, however the new leader who wrested the control of power gave orders for that brothers to be drowned.
Fortunately for that twins, there was a female wolf in the scene and she saved them and grew to become their surrogate mom. Later on, the brothers had been brought up by a shepherd.
Lastly a while later, they managed to get in touch with their grandfather, King Numitor, who utilized the might of the brothers to get back again his kingdom. However, each Romulus and Remus did not remain with their grandfather. They left after which went on to create the city of Rome around the Tiber River.
Regrettably, after some time, Romulus and Remus had an argument due to the fact Remus had left the boundaries of Rome and gone outside.
In a fit of anger, Romulus killed his brother. Following his brother’s demise, Romulus continued to govern Rome and did so for several years. He then gave up his throne and went on to become a god called Quirinus.
Following Romulus, Rome had a number of rulers till it became a Republic. This state of the city stayed on for several centuries until eventually Caesar made the decision to become a dictator.
This saw Rome plunge into a few civil wars. The moment Caesar was assassinated, August, his son, grew to become the ruler and he was responsible for uniting Rome and putting an end to all of the civil wars.
Ashley Mieler is a full time author and writes for ancientromanart.org and other various sites.
The Interesting Lives of Some of History’s Greatest Painters – They Aren’t All as Normal as Van Gogh
March 8, 2011
We all know Van Gogh’s interesting life story — How he sold only one painting during his life, how he sliced off his own ear and sent it to a prostitute, how he took his own life in an asylum, yada yada — but here are a few more interesting tid-bits about Vincent and a few other famous artists you might not have heard before.
Vincent Van Gogh has three of the Top 10 most expensive painting ever sold — Irises (which sold for $49 Million and ranked #8), a self portrait ($65 Million and #4) and the Most Expensive Painting of All Time: a portrait of Doctor Gachet, which sold for a record smashing $82.5 Million in 1990!
Pablo Picasso has four painting on the Top 10 list — which sold for an average of $49 Million.
John James Audubon, famous painter of birds and namesake of the Audubon Society was a bit less than the nature lover that today’s environmentalists would have you believe. To paint his birds he first shot them and then wired up the dead bodies and put them on branches.
The most faked and forged artist of all time (next to Elvis) is the little-known-today, Camille Corot. Unusual for most artists, he was very popular in his lifetime and thus spawned 100 of imitators — many of which “imitated” his signature also. Not only this, but he was also known to sign the paintings done by his numerous pupils. Over 10,000 fakes have been recorded.
There once was a painter who earned the nickname “Putter on of Pants.” Daniele da Volterra was employed by the Pope Paul IV to cover up the naughty bits of nudes in renaissance paintings — including Michelangelo’s nudes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (since removed.)
Speaking of Michelangelo and naughty nudes, his painting, The Last Judgment, which he painted late in life when he was older and crankier, includes an ugly donkey-eared figure in the pits of hell (lower right corner if you are keeping score at home.) This is a likeness of Vatican official Biagio di Cesena, who earlier had criticized the painting’s “indecent” nudes. Michelangelo retaliated by painting Biagio’s face on the donkey-faced dude. Biagio begged Pope Paul to have Michelangelo remove it, but the pontiff replied that he “could intercede for those in purgatory but I have no power over those in hell.” I think I will write and article soon on funny things Popes say. Watch for it.
Michelangelo also painted his own face in The Last Judgment. It is in the wrinkled human skin in the hand of St. Bartholomew.
By the way – Yes, that was a joke in the title.
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Techniques For Better Photo Shots
December 21, 2010
When we talk about pictures and how to take them, one of the best modes to use is the aperture priority mode. This is the type of mode that allows you to control the shots since you have the liberty to decide on how blurry should your background be. The main concern of this type of mode is to make sure that the viewer of the photo will focus on the subject rather than its foreground or background.
To deal with backgrounds that are plain and simple, smaller aperture may be used for it gives a clear detail of the subject as well as the background. However, if the picture will be taken in busy places where there are lots of objects moving around the subject, large aperture should be used. Large aperture allows the photographer to blur the background as well as the people moving and enables the viewer’s attention to be on the subject. The only problem in using this kind of mode is the fact that it is hard to lock the focus on the object because of the smaller depth of field and if it is moving, focus plane couldn’t also be used.
When taking pictures, it is best to keep in mind, to focus on the eyes of the subject. You can tell the whole story of the picture through the eyes of the subject. If you focus on other parts of the subject, chances are, your portrait is ruined. If your subject is not moving and has a lot of objects around it, it is best to use spot focusing to get a sharp shot of the eyes rather than using a large focusing area for the objects around the subject might confuse the camera. However, the object is moving, then you can either ruse a larger area or moving auto focus to get a nice shot of the subjects eyes.
If you wanted to add drama and come up with artistic pictures, then you can play with the exposure.Maximize the use of exposure lock. This feature is commonly available in most DSLR cameras. This will let you capture the perfect skin tone in reference to the background. Controlling the exposure helps you avoid the common mistake of capturing photos with the subjects’ faces are dark because of the back lit background.
Due to these factors, photographers always use different settings to capture the same shot. In general, it is best to have lenses that offer better options and faster shutter speeds. They allow you to capture sharp pictures which are the growing trend in the professional portraits nowadays. Street style and detail in the clothing are more appealing to the customers than soft pictures.
Try to apply the techniques you learned and you will surely get better pictures.
The writer also often blogs on things such as the four season tent and Kelty sleeping bag.
Atlanta Attractions: What’s With The High Museum Of Art?
June 1, 2010
Atlanta, Georgia is among the most excellent places I’ve recently been to. Other than being one of the most populated cities in the us, Atlanta is the third biggest city. It is also recognized as the best business city and transportation hub in the country (it includes the most frantic airport too).
In terms of tourism, Georgia’s capital city also has a lot to boast about. In fact, some of the Atlanta attractions are even known throughout the world. It’s where the world headquarters of Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, and AT&T are located. Aside from that, there’s also tour options for the Atlanta Zoo, an inside CNN Studio Tour, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, The Atlanta Botanical Garden, the Atlanta History Center and the High Museum of Art.
One very well-known spot among Atlanta attractions is The High Museum of Art. So what’s with this particular tourist destination that basically takes in a massive number of guests everyday?
Listed below are three essential factors about The High Museum of Art which in turn makes it really stand out amongst other Atlanta attractions.
* The High Museum of Art is known as the leading art museum in the Southeastern part of the United States. It’s a division of the Woodruff Arts Center (together with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Young Audiences and the 14th Street Playhouse).
* “The High” as it is commonly labelled, is a location that contains over 11,000 pieces in its permanent collection. Present in its walls are works of 19th and 20th century American art; European art; decorative arts; African American art; modern and also contemporary art; photography and African art.
* On top of all of these, The High is a powerful promoter in encouraging self-taught Southern artists. The museum also includes a curatorial division that is particularly dedicated to the area of self-taught art — a distinctive feature among North American museums. The museum furthermore hosts an annual motion picture festival and several special season art exhibitions through numerous global artists.
These are just three facts that set the The High Museum of Art apart from the other museums that are part of the Atlanta attractions roster. Plan a trip to Atlanta. Visit all the Atlanta attractions and see why The High really stands out.
Atlanta is a fantastic area to see during the summer months. When you’re there, take time to pay the many sites. If you get your tickets online before hand, you’ll discover that you can get amazing discounts on Atlanta attraction tickets. These types of packages include things like High Museum of Art discount tickets as well as deals to other attractions around the area.
Tourist Destinations In Rome
April 2, 2010
The Colosseum in Rome draws great number of tourists from all corners of the world at all times of the year and so it is the most popular of all the tourist spots in Rome. Tourists can be seen thoroughly revelling in the Colosseum by taking photographs.
The Colosseum in Rome was the most important of the gladiator arenas in Rome and regardless of its age, its architecture stands in place.
The Palatine in Rome is a vast excavation of a part of the city of ancient Rome and provides some of the most insightful and amusing sightseeing enjoyments to be had in Rome. The Palatine in Rome used to be the wealthiest residential district of Rome and is replete with the remains of Roman mansions and the royal palace of Emperor Domitian.
Put aside some additional time to visit the Palatine in Rome because of its large area to be covered and since its proximity to the Colosseum is known it will be desirable to cover both the places in a single day. By spending 8 Euros you can see both these places.
The Roman Forum in Rome is an excavated area of what used to be a chief market place and public area in the ancient city of Rome. Public buildings and squares with statues on display are among the sightseeing attractions at the Roman Forum. Guided sightseeing tours of the forum are available in English at a cost of 4 Euros. This sightseeing attraction in Rome is open from 9-5 daily.
Capital Hill in the USA has its predecessor in the Capitoline Hill in ancient Rome. This was the ancient Rome’s headquarters of the municipal government and city council. A vast building that is excavated is an attraction here among several other unearthed pieces by the archaeologists.
In the major public square is situated the statue of Marcus Aurelius at the Capitoline Hill. There is also the world’s oldest Museum present in the Capitoline Hill. A visit to this Museum is a must.
The church of St Mary in Aracoeli is another major sightseeing attraction to be seen here complete with its magnificent fresco painting on it’s inside walls and a statue of Jesus.
The Piazza Venezia is the most popular tourist destination in Rome if you are to have a panoramic view of Rome. It houses the tomb of the Unknown Soldier and also the St. Mark Basilica.
A cycling tour of Italy is a pleasant means os seeing the countryside at a slow pace. For further info about Italian cultural assets click on our guide to things to do in Rome.
Florence Sightseeing Tours
March 23, 2010
The beautiful Italian city of Florence is world-renowned as the top venue for renaissance art lovers and is an archetypal Tuscan delight. Although commercial Florence sightseeing tours abound, they can be quite rigid in their approach and make you feel part of a herd. Florence easily permits the wandering traveler to independently discover its wonderful attractions.
In Florence, the place to start is the historic centre (centro storico), a vast area crammed with beautiful buildings, statues, landscaped gardens and art just waiting to be discovered. You’ll get more out of Florence sightseeing tours if actually stay there and do short walks to specific venues. Alternatively if your visit to Florence is short, there’s plenty to see in the centro storico.
A top attraction in Florence is the the impressive medieval fortress Palazzo Vecchio (old palace), which serves as Florence’s town hall. From there you’ll get wonderful panoramic views of the whole Florence, in addition to the amazing frescoes and sculptures housed within its exquisite chambers. Right in front of Palazzo Vecchio is the Piazza della Signoria, an al fresco museum containing the Fountain of Neptune overlooked by the statues of Cosimo and David.
Piazza del Duomo is one of the most popular portions of Florence renaissance art sightseeing tours with excellent reasons. St. John’s baptistry, the Opera del Duomo Museum, Loggia del Bigallo and Giotto’s Campanile are all unmissable examples of Florence renaissance art.
In Florence the Ponte Vecchio, an amazing historic bridge over the river Arno, is only a short walk away. This most unusual structure carries tiny but most impressive shops in Florence, most selling gold jewelery in amazing styles. Crossing the Arno takes you to the edge of the centro storico and to the slightly less-well frequented part of Florence known as Oltrarno.
Look out for the Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. Piazzale Michelangelo, the highest point in Florence, offers for some great views of Florence. For the more adventurous, through the gate known as Porta Romana, (therefore outside the centro storico) try finding Poggio Reale, Arcetri (Galileo’s area of residence) and Bellosguardo.
Click here for more information on Florence Sightseeing Tours, or visit our European Vacation advice website.
Details About The Tourist Places In Pisa
March 20, 2010
Pisa is a small town with a population of less than 100,000 situated in the north of Italy. Pisa is known chiefly for its leaning tower; however, there are some other tourist attractions in Pisa worthy of a visit. Pisa has a long history and served as a strategic naval base during Roman times.
Pisa rose to occupy the apex in military and economic fronts during the 12th century when it was considered as a chief maritime force and trading city as a result of which the major part of its architecture could be dated back to the 12th century. We have described a few of the tourist spots in Pisa below.
The Leaning tower of Pisa is without doubt the most well known sightseeing attraction in Pisa and probably one of the most known in Italy. Paradoxically, had the tower not been deficient it is doubtful that it would be so famous. Nevertheless the slant in this tower attracts tourists from far and wide who come to be photographed in front of the tower.
There is a limitation apropos the admission into Pisa due to safety reasons, however visitors are allowed to get into the tower from morning till the daily limit is reached. It costs 15 Euros towards the admission fee that may be paid in advance for certainty.
The baptistery in Pisa is where the majority of citizens in medieval Pisa would have been baptised into the Christian religion. The original structure of the baptistery in Pisa dates back to the 12th century although it was not fully finished until two centuries later.
As a result this piece of architecture in Pisa is very beautiful as it embraces both Romanesque and Gothic impacts. Once inside the baptistery you can find the pool-like shape carved out in the middle of the building which would have been filled with water and into which people would have been submerged as part of the baptism process.
The Cathedral in Pisa is an excellent evidence of Romanesque architecture that is so typical of the Tuscany region of Italy.
The building itself is believed to be built in the 11th century with grandiose interior supported by 68 columns. Green and white marble interiors are the attractions of the Cathedral in Pisa. Entrance fee to this Cathedral is 2 Euros.
A comfortable visit of Pisa is possible with the help of boat journeys that cost 5 Euros and that help the tourist to visit all the tourist spots in Pisa by travelling down the River Arno.
If you have an interest in art from the renaissance then be sure to read our guide on sightseeing in Florence. If you want further information about sightseeing in Pisa follow the hyperlinks.
Buying Disneyland and Sea World Passes In Advance
February 9, 2010
Surely you and your family or your friends would like to have the best time in your vacation. You do not want to have a vacation that is full of hassles and unexpected instances that can stop your bonding moment, although, these hassles can be prevented if you purchase your tickets in advance especially if you are going to a place like Disneyland and Sea World.
Disneyland and Sea World is probably two of the most visited places especially by family and friends who are looking for a fun filled vacation. So don’t expect that your visit would be like a stroll in the park since lines in ticket booths could get really long especially if you visit at peak season.
So, for an antidote of this problem, a person needs to plan ahead and planning ahead would mean getting tickets in advance. As early as possible, you and all those who plan to go with you in this trip must avail of Disneyland tickets and Sea World Tickets to avoid all the posing hassles for your vacation.
Purchasing Disneyland tickets and Sea World tickets could really become difficult most especially during peak seasons. There is just literally countless numbers of tourists and visitors who visit these parks during peak season. Not to mention the big crowd at ticket booths–waiting in line could really become frustrating sometimes.
That is why it is advisable that you purchase your Disneyland tickets and Sea World tickets ahead of time. To give you a valid reason why you should purchase your Disneyland tickets and Sea World tickets ahead, here are some of the reasons why.
1. Purchasing Disneyland tickets and Sea World tickets in advance can give you more time to prepare the stuff that you need to bring. These include items like food, camera, extra shirt and other important things that you may need. 2. Advance purchases of these tickets can allow you to save money, since Disneyland and Sea World usually offer discounts and other special offers for early bird buyers. 3. Purchasing in advance will prevent you from going through long lines and will be mush easier for you since these tickets can be sent to you or you can pick it up on the booth. 4. Advance purchases will allow you to avoid large crowds and waiting in the line for the ticket booth to open. 5. Purchasing in advance will allow you to access Disneyland and Sea World faster than falling in line when purchasing tickets.
If you’re planning a vacation to California this summer, you should get your tickets prior to your trip online. This will help you save money so you can have a more stress-free vacation. You can also purchase package deals that include Disneyland tickets, Universal Studios passes, and inexpensive Sea World tickets so you can visit more attractions for less.
Creative Sculpture All Inclusive Art Vacation Workshop Travel Deals
December 11, 2009
A unique art, sculpture, all-inclusive creative experience and vacation at the Lynn Forbes School of Sculpture. Includes classes, clay, tools, fees for live models–either clothed or nude. Beginners to advanced. Vouchers used, tips and taxes included. In romantic Carlsbad by the Sea, California.
Luxury accomodations in a spacious bed and breakfast with featherbed and fireplace a couple of blocks from the beach and studio. Spa treatment, wine tasting, gourmet French cuisine, fresh seafood, crab, danish pastry party, live music nightlife with firepits, dancing, beautiful ocean sunsets on the seven mile beach with a two level seawalk.
http://stores.ebay.com/carlsbad-sculpture-art-and-gifts?refid=store
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