Very often one sees an interesting architectural feature but seldom find the reason why we see this in so many houses. Old houses often features beautiful fanlights. It is so called because it is fan shaped. Usually situated above entrance doors to houses.
Victorian architecture means it is buildings built in the United Kingdom and former British colonies, during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901). The Industrial Revolution played a big role in the developing of this style, especially in the colonies. Most of the buildings typical of the style was built between 1840 up to the early twentieth century.
Like me, I think the majority of people have a romantic connotation with lighthouses. Images of stormy seas, ships in danger and isolated lives comes to mind.
In the centre of Berlin is the Museum Island. Four of the worlds biggest museums can to be found here. Because of my love for Greek ancient history and culture the Pergamon museum was my first stop on a visit to the great German city. The museum houses the Altar to Zeus from the city of Pergamon in the now modern Turkey.
The Pergamon Altar dates from the 2nd century BC, with a 113 meters long sculptural frieze depicting the struggle of the gods and the giants, and the Gate of Miletus from Roman antiquity.
If one goes walking in the Paris’ Tuileries Gardens Close to the Louvre Museum one can see a collection of statues by the sculptor Aristede Maillol. The gardens boast 20 Maillol sculptures. The sculptures are strong monumental female nude figures. They were donated by Maillol’s last model and his muse,Dina Vierny.
A visit to Paris is synonymous with the art of Rodin in my mind. His art is one of my first art loves, and the first visit to the Rodin museum was an incredible experience.
A visit to Ireland made me acutely aware of Stone age structures. These megalithic structures can be found all over Ireland. The most commonly seen of these giant stone structures are the great portal tombs. My first exposure to it was the great Brown Hill Dolmen. A simple structure with two support stones in front, a lower stone to close of the entrance and a massive rock to form a roof. Estimated to be more than 5 millinnia old, the structure takes your breath away. Simple, solid with a spiritual feeling to it one seldom experiences. The setting is breathtaking as well, situated on n hill overlooking the whole valley.
On visiting the York sculpture gardens some time ago I came across one of the better surprises of my life. Before the main building was two giant sculptures, almost transparent against the backdrop of the York moors. This was my first introduction to the work of the sculpor, Jaume Penza.
I first saw Marino Marini’s work in front of the Peggy Guggenheim museum in Venice. It is a lovely sculpture of a boy on a horse, arms thrown open to welcome the world in a very positive attitude.The name of the sculpture is “the Angel of the City”. Great was my excitement when I read that there is a Marini museum dedicated to his art in Florance.
The contemporary sculptor I love most is undoubtedly Henry Moore. Whenever I travel to any major city in Europe I first find out where I can see the Henry Moore exhibited in that city. Great was my excitement when I had the chance to visit York and found that there is a Henry Moore Sculpture Garden.
