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.

19 comments:

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

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  2. Beautiful capture Doug!

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

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

      I like the angle of the photo.

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  4. Very beautiful texture, colour and shading

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

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  6. 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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  7. 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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  8. perfect shoot! this is a photography with history, full of texture and think to tell! weel done :)
    hugs

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

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

    Have a nice day!!!
    Geetings

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

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  13. nice image and nice description of the natural stone travertine

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