Art is everywhere is Rome, whether your visiting a museum, walking around the Colleseum, or even just walking in a small village. Coming from an artistic family, I have appreciated art throughtout my youth, and now that I'm in the epicenter of art I feel as though I am surrounded by masterpieces. I feel as though art comes in many different forms and that you have to use all five of your senses to appreciate art. My thoughts on art is that a talented chef can be an artist, and a famous musician can be creating pieces of work.
Which brings me to my first piece, everyone has appreciated this work and I'm sure im not the only one who is going to write about it, but it stuck out in my mind; and it was the Fontana della Barcaccia. It is located in the center of beautiful Piazza di Spagna, and was a sight to see by everyone. Shaped like a half sunken boat it was complimenting the surrounding area with its sheer beauty.
This fairly small fountain, but has a large impact on the surrounding piazza. Everyone comes to see this fountain, and fetch water from the drains, loacted on the front of the boat. Its water tasted so pure and clean; it was as if I collected the water straight from the mountains myself. I feel that the artist was really trying to bring the beauty out of the ugly. The sun on the top of the sunken boat really gave it a (excuse the pun) "lifting" experience. Instead of seeing the boat as a bad sign, I saw it inviting and accepting. Which I think is the exact reason why the artist sculpted the sun.
The other reason I feel the artist wanted people to see the beauty in ugly is through the detailed the boat is. Located on the bow of the boat is a floral design that ends and the water fountain. This is full of detail and vibrance and that makes the boat seem royal. Also the shape of the boat is very curvey which makes it seem like there is no other boat like it. This causes the feeling that your walking onto a boat made just for you. This boat makes everyone feel accepted and really brings out the beauty in life.
Another art piece that was not much to see but I feel the most important ruin in the Roman forum is the Temple of Caesar. It may only consisted of ten large bricks but it was the final resting place of Caesar, one of the greatest rulers of all time. The temple before it was destroyed, was the center of the Roman Forum. It was the second place they wanted to have Caesars funeral, however, the first place was not safe.
Before the great temple there was a monument for Caesar that consisted of and alter and column. This was taken down by those who opposed Caesar at the time and then was replaced with a temple. Inside of this temple erected a large statue of Caesar, they wanted to show how great Caesar was to the citizens. Caesar was a great influence on the people and had alot of power during his time of reign.
The Fontana della Barcaccia is my favorite fountain too. It is so simple, but beautiful at the same time. It is also very useful, since it is so hot at the steps! I agree that no matter where you are in Rome, there is art. I think the culture is art, every building looks like a piece of art, and also even the sounds are art. Either you will hear the fountains or you will here someone playing an instrument for the in the midst of the crowds of people. The Roman Forum has so much history with it, I need to just sit and study it to fully understand it all. The story of the Temple of Caesar is very interesting, and I am glad you chose it and reminded me again about it. With so much information given during the tours, it is hard to retain it all.
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