Sunday, February 19, 2012

Travertine

Colonnades and Lantern, Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, Italy  © Doug Hickok
(Click on image for larger view)


A solitary lantern hangs between the rows of large columns in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City. The centuries old colonnades are made of travertine stone, a common material of buildings in Rome, and throughout Italy. Travertine is a limestone formed from mineral or hot springs. The word itself derives from an Italian word meaning 
"of Tibur", an ancient Roman town, which is today called Tivoli, near Rome. 
It was a preferred stone of Michelangelo... and Bernini, the builder of the 
colonnades pictured here.
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19 comments:

  1. 黄清华 Wong Ching WahFebruary 19, 2012 at 4:56 AM

    Excellent subject and monotone decision !

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  2. OlaFebruary 19, 2012 at 5:14 AM

    monumental!

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  3. Journey PhotographicFebruary 19, 2012 at 7:37 AM

    As soon as I saw the texture on these coloumns I recognised them... this picture brings back memories!

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  4. píxeles y neuronasFebruary 19, 2012 at 8:04 AM

    Wonderful lines and BW.
    Agustín.

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  5. AnonymousFebruary 19, 2012 at 8:19 AM

    Beautiful capture Doug!

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  6. Cezar and LéiaFebruary 19, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    Bonjour Doug,
    This picture is brilliant, wonderful texture in those columns and it's b&w perfect!
    Léia

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    Replies
    1. Traveling HawkFebruary 19, 2012 at 12:17 PM

      They use a lot of travertine here too for the facades.

      I like the angle of the photo.

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  7. La Mode OperandiFebruary 19, 2012 at 2:36 PM

    Very beautiful texture, colour and shading

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  8. georgeFebruary 19, 2012 at 4:20 PM

    I hope you're having a nice weekend. Columns - my favourite architectural feature...and the lamp is simply wonderful.

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  9. ArashFebruary 19, 2012 at 4:22 PM

    WoW! such an amazing BW, Doug.
    I like grey textures on columns, gave the sense of age and strength of each column!

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  10. ChristopherFebruary 19, 2012 at 6:13 PM

    I love how you've filled the frame with these impressive columns and the lantern perfectly provides us with an interlude from the stonework. Fantastic post filled with much goodness Doug!

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  11. Tiago BragaFebruary 19, 2012 at 8:50 PM

    perfect shoot! this is a photography with history, full of texture and think to tell! weel done :)
    hugs

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  12. DomLOrthaFebruary 20, 2012 at 7:42 AM

    Absolutly perfect! I know it's hard to find a great point of view of the columns here, but you succeeded!! Great colors and contrast. Really love this one!!
    Have a nice day.

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  13. franzFebruary 20, 2012 at 11:16 AM

    beautifully graphic image, doug, from one of the most impressive squares ever!

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  14. Indicativo imagenFebruary 20, 2012 at 2:37 PM

    Perfect shot with a singular history.
    I like this color of the colonnades.

    Have a nice day!!!
    Geetings

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  15. john4jackFebruary 20, 2012 at 6:23 PM

    this is marvelous!!

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  16. yzFebruary 22, 2012 at 3:06 PM

    great framing!

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  17. rianMarch 3, 2012 at 12:28 PM

    nice bit of info here.. nice shot! :)

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  18. travertine tileMarch 16, 2012 at 1:29 PM

    nice image and nice description of the natural stone travertine

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