Showing posts with label Sculpture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sculpture. Show all posts

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Nicolaus Copernicus Monument - Thorwaldsen


We just learned about the Arc de Triomphe by Jean-Pierre Cortot in Paris, France.

Another neoclassical sculpture is the statue of Copernicus by Bertel Thorwaldsen.

Copernicus was a Polish astronomer, famous for telling everyone that the sun was the middle of our galaxy, because people used to think the earth was at the middle.

Bertel Thorwaldsen was a famous sculptor, and was given the job to make this famous statue honoring Copernicus.

During World War II, the nazi army took the statue down and had plans to melt it, but they lost the war before they melted it down so the Polish people put the statue back up.


(from: wikipedia - nicolaus copernicus monument, warsaw)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Golden Madonna of Essen

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Arc de Triomphe - Cortot


We just learned about the Rococo or Rocaille sculpture Sèvres pot-pourri vase in the shape of a ship by Duplessis in Paris 1757.

In art history, after Rococo came a type of art called NeoClassicism, which tried to make simple and pleasing all around.

One of the most famous Neoclassical sculptures is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France in 1806 by sculptor Jean-Pierre Cortot.

This arch was built to honor the people who fought and died for France.
The names of hundreds of soldiers are engraved all around the arch.

There are many sculptures all around the arch, like the four very detailed groups of sculptures on the pillars.
The sides have six relief sculptures, the arches have detailed sculptures, and even the ceiling of the arch has 21 sculpted roses.

The arch is in the middle of a part of the city with many roads leading to it.





(from: wikipedia - arc de triomphe)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Archangel Ivory

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Sèvres pot-pourri vase in the shape of a ship - Duplessis


We just learned about the Rococo sculpture of Three Derby Figures made by the Royal Crown Derby porcelain shop.

Another Rococo art sculputre is the Sèvres pot-pourri vase in the shape of a ship made by Jean-Claude Chambellan Duplessis in Paris, in 1757.

Pot pourri is a bunch of nice smelling leaves and plants that are put into a small vase to make a nice smell.
The sculptor Jean-Claude Duplessis worked for the Sèvres porcelain maker in Paris, and he made these pot-pourri holders in the shape of sailing ships for people to buy.
Many rich and famous people collected these pot-pourri holders made here.

In France the Rococo style was a little different, and was known as Rocaille.


(from: wikipedia - jean-claude chambellan duplessis)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Three Derby Figures - Derby


We just learned about the Pair of Lovers by Franz Anton Bustelli.

Another set of Rococo sculptures is the Three Derby Figures made by the Royal Crown Derby porcelain shop in England, 1758.

The Derby Porcelain company is one of the oldest makers of porcelain in England.
They used to just be called Derby Porcelain, then one day the Queen of England liked their sculptures so much she gave them the name "The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company".


(from: wikipedia - royal crown derby)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Pair of Lovers - Bustelli


We just learned about the Fuga d'Attila Relief by Alessandro Algardi.

We've seen a lot of different Baroque sculptures!

Another sculpture style is called Rococo.
This style of sculpture was very decorated, with lots of curves, white and pastel colors, and gilding with metals like gold.

One of the most famous sculptors in the Rococo style was Franz Anton Bustelli, and one of his most famous sculptures was the Pair of Lovers, showing two people in love, surrounded by curved shapes, painted with bright colors, and gilded with gold trim.


(from: wikipedia - franz anton bustelli)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Great Cameo of France

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Fuga d'Attila Relief - Algardi


We just learned about the Baroque sculpture of Saint Helena by Andrea Bolgi.

Another Baroque sculpture is the Fuga d'Attila Relief by Alessandro Algardi in 1653 in Rome.

Algardi was a sculptor at the same time as Bernini, but Bernini was very famous, so he sometimes had a hard time getting noticed for some of the amazing sculptures he was making, even though many people think he is just as good as Bernini.

He was given the job to create a few sculptures of Popes through the years, and one of his most famous is this Relief.
Remember that a relief sculpture is one that is on a wall, with the sculptures sticking out.
This was a sculpture of Pope Leo fighting against Attila the Hun.
Attila came to attack Rome, but the legend tells of Pope Leo asked for God's help to defeat him, and the Huns were not able to take over Rome.



(from: wikipedia - alessandro algardi)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Gonzaga Cameo

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Saint Helena - Bolgi


We just learned about the Baroque sculpture of Saint Andrew by François Duquesnoy.

Another baroque sculpture is Saint Helena by Andrea Bolgi in 1639 in Rome.

Bolgi made the sculpture for Saint Peter's Basilica, which is a really big church in Rome.
He was a student of Bernini, and he was invited to help create this statue as one of many others in the big church.


(from: wikipedia - andrea bolgi)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Gemma Augustea

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Saint Andrew - Duquesnoy


We just learned about the Annunciantion of the Virgin by the Angel by Francesco Mochi.

Another baroque art sculpture is the statue of Saint Andrew by Belgian François Duquesnoy.

This sculpture shows the Apostle Andrew, holding the cross that he would be crucified on.
The story is that when Andrew was going to be crucified for being a Christian, he said he did not deserve to be on the same type of cross as Jesus had been crucified on, the one shaped like a T.
So he asked them to shape it like an X for him, and on flags, an X like that is known as Saint Andrew's Cross.


(from: wikipedia - françois duquesnoy)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Houses at L'Estaque - Braque

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Annunciation of the Virgin by the Angel - Mochi


We just learned about the Neptune by Charles Antoine Coysevox.

Another famous Baroque sculpture is the Annunciation of the Virgin by the Angel by Francesco Mochi in Orvieto Italy in 1605.

This is actually a pair of statues, showing the story of when the angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her she was going to give birth to the baby Jesus.

The statues can be seen from all sides, and are set apart from each other, with the statue of Mary showing her jumping out of her chair in shock from the sight of the angel.


(from: wikipedia - francesco mochi)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Arch of Constantine

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Neptune - Coysevox


We just learned about the St. Cecilia - Maderno.

Another famous Baroque sculpture is Neptune by French sculptor Charles Antoine Coysevox in 1702.

Coysevox was a great sculptor even at the young age of 17, and sculpted many things throughout his life.

He was known for creating very detailed sculptures, like Neptune.

(from: wikipedia - antoine coysevox)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Ara Pacis

Saturday, August 19, 2017

St. Cecilia - Stefano Maderno


We just learned about the statue Fontana della Barcaccia by Pietro Bernini.

Another famous baroque sculpture was St. Cecilia by Stefano Maderno in 1599 AD.

St. Cecilia was a martyr from the time of the Roman Empire, which means she was an innocent person who was killed, and people looked at her like a hero.

The story says that when she was killed, she had three fingers sticking out on her left hand, and 1 finger on her right hand.
This was to show her belief in the Holy Trinity belief of three in one, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The sculptor Stefano Maderno was a famous Italian sculptor in the Baroque time, after Michelangelo and before Bernini.

(from: wikipedia - stefano maderno)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Capitoline Brutus

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Fontana della Barcaccia - Bernini


We just learned about the sculpture of Saint Bibiana by Bernini.

Another famous Baroque art sculpture is the fountain Fontana della Barcaccia by Pietro Bernini in 1629 in Rome.

This fountain is in the shape of a sunken boat with water flowing all over the sides.

There was a legend of a river flooding 1598 and carrying a boat into this plaza and leaving it there when the flood waters went away.
This fountain was made based on that story.

Pietro Bernini is the father of the famous sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini.


(from: wikipedia - fontana della barcaccia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Trajan's Column

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Saint Bibiana - Bernini


We just learned about the Medal of John VIII Palaeaologus by Pisanello.

Another sculpture called Baroque style is the sculpture of Saint Bibiana by artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1624.

The sculpture shows St. Bibiana standing in a robe holding palm branches.
Her mouth is open and she's looking at the skies, and her face and body positions show lots of feelings.

The Baroque style had sculptors trying to show more movement and energy in sculptures, many times reaching outward, and usually viewable from the front sides and back.
In the past a lot of statues did not have much to look at on the back or sides, because they were supposed to be up against a wall so no one would see that side.
Baroque style a lot of times was a statue in the middle of a fountain, so all sides were sculpted.

Bernini was a very famous sculptor in the Baroque style, and some people even feel like he was the one who invented the style and made it popular.


(from: wikipedia - saint bibiana (bernini))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Medal of John VIII Palaeologus - Pisanello


We just learned about the Madonna and Child by Francesco Laurana.

Another famous Renaissance sculpture is the Medal of John VIII Palaeologus by Pisanello in 1439.
It is like a coin about 4 inches wide.
The picture is of the Eastern Roman Emperor John VIII Palaeologus.
The words on the coin say "John, king and emperor of the Romans, the Palaeologus"

Pisanello was also known as Antonio di Puccio Pisano or Antonio di Puccio da Cereto.
He was the first to start making medals like this of famous people like the Emperor, and this is believed to be the first one made during the Renaissance.
After he made this, many other people started making medals, but Pisanello was thought to be the best one.



(from: wikipedia - medal of john viii palaeologus)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Alexander Sarcophagus

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Madonna and Child - Laurana


We just learned about the sculpture of David by Donatello.

Another Renaissance art sculpture is the Madonna and Child made by Francesco Laurana in 1471 AD.

Francesco was a very famous sculptor during this time, and his style was a little different than many of the other artists at the time, including his scupltures work that changed after he moved to work in France.

(from: wikipedia - francesco laurana)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Lady in Blue

Saturday, July 15, 2017

David - Donatello


We just learned about Leonardo's Horse.

Another famous Renaissance art sculpture is David by Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi in the early 1400s in Florence.

Donatello was a very famous sculptor, and the marble sculpture of David is the first job that he was given for an important sculpture.

There is another statue of David that Donatello made out of bronze that was also very famous, party because no one else was making standing statues of bronze at the time.

Both statues are of a young David who does not look very strong, standing above a defeated Goliath who looks very strong.
This is supposed to show that David's strength was in God, not his own body.

(from: wikipedia - david (donatello))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Athena Parthenos

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Leonardo's Horse


We just learned about the Equestrian Statue of Bartolomeo.

Another famous Renaissance sculpture is Leonardo's Horse in Milan in 1482.
Leonardo Da Vinci was working on a large sculpture of a horse, and he built a model out of clay but it was destroyed in a war before it could be made into a metal statue.

His notes and drawings for how to make the horse were saved, so a few people have made real copies of the sculpture.


(from: wikipedia - leonardo's horse)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Poseidon of Melos

Saturday, July 1, 2017

Equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni - Verrocchio


We just learned about the statue of Christ and St. Thomas, by Andrea del Verrocchio.

Another famous sculpture by Andrea del Verrocchio is the Equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni made in Venice, Italy in 1488 AD.

When the noble person Bartolomeo Colleoni died, he had left some money for a statue to be made of him.
There was a competition between three sculptors who had to make samples of what they wanted to put up, and Andrea del Verrocchio won the competition.

He made the statue to be like the famous Donatello statue The Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata.

The statue is made to look like a very strong and powerful military commander.


(from: wikipedia - equestrian statue of bartolomeo colleoni)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Statue of Zeus at Olympia

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Christ and St. Thomas - Verrocchio


We just learned about the Cantoria bu Luca Della Robbia.

Another famous Renaissance sculpture is the bronze statue of Christ and St. Thomas, sculpted by Andrea del Verrocchio in 1483 in Florence.

These statues tell the story of Christ when the Apostle Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead, and said he would only believe if he saw him with his own eyes.

The statue shows Christ standing confident and strong, and Thomas looking very nervous and embarrassed.

When it was sculpted it was made to be seen only from the front side, so the back is not sculpted.
This helped make it easier to do, and also saved on using up bronze.

(from: wikipedia - christ and st. thomas (verrocchio))


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Elgin Marbles

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Cantoria - Luca della Robbia


We just learned about the Gates of Paradise.

Another famous Renaissance sculpture is the Cantoria organ loft in the Cathedral of Florence, sculpted in 1438 by Luca della Robbia.
These marble sculptures showed a group of people singing and dancing and making music to praise the Lord, in the words of Psalm 150 from the Bible.

The Psalm says to praise God with the trumpet, harp, lyre, timbral, dancing, strings, pipe and cymbals.
This sculpture shows people doing all of these different things to praise God.


(from: wikipedia - luca della robbia)


(from: wikipedia - luca della robbia)


Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Jockey of Artemision