Card church
440 creative works found
-
Notre Dame – Paris / © Loredana Crupi 2007 “Notre Dame depicts nothing less than the whole natural universe as it was known at the start of the thirteenth century.” Allan Temko See more works BLACK & WHITE USA SERIES EUROPE SERIES CHINA SERIES GARTH PLOOG / NATURE ABSTRACT
-
Stormy Church – Thank you to RichieDean who helped me with the sky on this and a few other bits and pieces – You are great Richie! /
-
I’ve always loved Margaret Widdemer’s poem, “The Watcher.” I’ve coupled it with an image I took of a steeple of a very old church in Houston, Texas. I hope that those who have suffered the loss of a mother will find comfort in this photo. My mother is still alive and I am grateful for her; I created this image for those whose mothers are no longer with them and who suffer loneliness, especially during the holidays and on birthdays and anniversaries of death.
-
Stormy Church 02 In sepia.. With a few adjustments, adjusted light, colour, contrast,.adaptive lighting & cropped slightly – taken in a small village in Cambridgeshire 2007
-
“Praying for Rain” Photography & Artwork / by Holly Kempe © “As the farmer knelt down on the salty sand, / He needed rain to save his land. / The crops were wilting, the cattle all dead, / He looked around, not a word was said. / The ground was dry, where is the rain? / What could stop this worthless pain? / The farmer cursed in sheer despair, / He did not have a drop to spare. / A thundercloud covers the western sky, / A bolt of lightning explodes near by. / The farmer looks up and begins to pray, / Hoping that the rain will come his way. / Then drip-by-drip it starts to fall, / The crystal water like a clear glass wall. / The trees and flowers all in bloom, / Then once again, gone is the gloom. / The water fills the old parched creek, / The rivers bulge as the waters peak. / The mud squelches through the farmer’s dry old / hands, / As he thanks the Lord for saving his land.” / ~ Meg Hayes Year Seven / St Mary’s Primary School Praying for Rain was featured in the: Redbubble Homepage – November 08
-
This is St Mary Redcliffe Church in Bristol. / Its been photogrpahed so many times before so I wanted a different view of it. / I hope you like it!
-
Image by photographer Glennis Siverson, www.glennisphotos.com. Altar candles in a church in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “The light of the body is the eye.” – Matt. 6:22
-
The cloisters of Gloucester Cathedral Watercolour by Ruth S Harris Featured on RB Home Page / Featured in “British Painters”
-
Probably the most photographed part of Slovenia. Lake Bled with its island and church are famous for their fairy-tale beauty. The present Church of the Assumption was built in the 17th century and the vicarage a hundred years later. But there are vestiges that date much earlier. That day we wanted to walk round this natural lake, a leisurely walk of some 6 hours. It was beautiful scenes all the way. I must have taken more than 200 photos on that hike alone. / . / Nikon D70 / Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G / Aperture: f/11.0 / Shutter: 1/125 sec / Focal Length: 28mm / ISO: 200 / . /
-
This is the natural island in the middle of Lake Bled in Slovenia. The island has several buildings, the main one being the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, built in the 15th century, where weddings are held regularly. The church has a 52-metre tower and there is a stairway with 99 steps leading up to the building. This was taken with a Canon DSLR EOS 350D camera. This shot was featured in the Rural around the Globe group and the Canon DSLR group, 2 weeks ago.
-
This was taken inside the Cathedral of Toledo, in Spain. It was taken on film and the print was scanned to digital. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo, also called Primate Cathedral of Toledo, is a church in Spain. The seat of the Archdiocese of Toledo, it is one of the three 13th century High Gothic cathedrals in Spain and is considered to be the magnum opus of the Gothic style in Spain. It was begun in 1226 during the reign of Ferdinand III and the last Gothic contributions were made in the 15th century when, in 1493, the vaults of the central nave were finished, during the times of the Catholic Monarchs.
-
Combination one room school house, church, community building, and town hall. These structures are scattered through out the Ozark Mountains, and the foothills of Arkansas. Sooooooo…... These types of scenes are very familiar to me, living here in the good ol’ natural state. My very first years of school began in a one room school house almost identical to this one, and it is now long gone.. When I look at this photograph, I can still see us all running, and playing in the school yard, and hear all of our laughter, and screaming. All the sounds of the children playing, as we went along in our merry, carefree younger days. I remember…........
-
Lithuania (My city) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia / Vilnius Castle Complex / Lithuania Vilnius Castle Complex around 1530 / Built Parts of castle in 10th century / Construction / materials Stone, bricks, wood / In use For defense from 10-17th centuries / Controlled by Lithuania, Russia Vilnius Castle in 1740: / Upper Castle: 1. Western tower; 2. Southern tower (foundations remain); 3. Castle Keep (ruins remain) / Lower Castle: 4. Gates and bridge to the city (Pilies Street); 5. Road and bridge to Tiltas Street; 6. Vilnius Cathedral; 7. Palace of Supreme Tribunal; 8. Palace of bishops; 9. Royal Palace; 10. Palace garden; 11. The New Arsenal, currently a museum; 12. Northeastern tower and gates of the Old Arsenal; 13. Yard of Old Arsenal / The Vilnius Castle Complex (Lithuanian: Vilniaus pilių kompleksas or Vilniaus pilys) is a group of defensive, cultural, and religious buildings on the left bank of the Neris River, near its confluence with the Vilnia River, in Vilnius, Lithuania. The complex evolved between the 10th and 18th centuries, and was one of Lithuania’s major defensive structures.[1] / The complex consisted of three castles: the Upper, the Lower, and the Crooked (Lithuanian: Kreivoji pilis). The Crooked Castle was burnt by the Teutonic Knights in 1390 and was never rebuilt.[2] The Vilnius Castles were attacked several times by the Teutonic Order after 1390, but they never succeeded in capturing the entire complex. The first time any foreign power managed to capture the Vilnius Castle Complex was in 1655.[3] Soon afterwards, the severely damaged castles lost their importance, and many buildings were abandoned. During the Tsarist annexation,4 several historic buildings were demolished; many more were damaged during the fortress construction in the 19th century. / Today, the remaining Gediminas Tower is the symbol of the city of Vilnius.[6] Annually, on the 1st of January, the Lithuanian tricolor is hosted on Gediminas Tower to commemorate Flag Day. The complex is part of the National Museum of Lithuania, one of the largest museums in the country. / Contents [hide] / 1 History of the Upper Castle / 2 History of the Lower Castle / 2.1 Royal Palace / 2.2 Vilnius Cathedral / 2.3 Castle Arsenals / 3 Modern developments / 4 See also / 5 References / 6 External links / [edit]History of the Upper Castle Plan of Vilnius Castle Complex in the 18th century / One part of the castle complex, which was built on a hilltop, is known as the Upper Castle. The hill on which it is built is known as Gediminas Hill, about 40 meters (43.7 yards) in height and around 160 meters (175 yards) in length.[7] / Archaeological data shows that the site has been occupied since Neolithic times. The hill was strengthened with defensive wooden walls that were fortified with stone in the 9th century. Around the 10th century a wooden castle was built, and since about the 13th century the hilltop has been surrounded by stone walls with towers. During the rule of Gediminas Vilnius was designated the capital city; in 1323, the castle was improved and expanded.[8] Remains of Upper Castle`s Keep / Pagan Lithuania waged war with the Christian Orders for more than two centuries.[9] The Orders were seeking to conquer Lithuania, stating that their motivation was the conversion of pagan Lithuanians to Catholicism. As Vilnius evolved into one of the most important cities in the state, it became a primary war target. The Vilnius Castles were attacked by the Teutonic Order in 1365, 1375, 1377, 1383, 1390, 1392, 1394 and 1402, but the castles were never taken completely.[2] The most damaging assaults were led by the Teutonic Order marshals Engelhard Rabe von Wildstein and Konrad von Wallenrode in 1390 as part of Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392). Many noblemen from Western Europe participated in this military campaign, including Henry, Duke of Derby, the future king Henry IV of England, with 300 knights, and the Livonian Knights, who were commanded by the Grand Master.[10] The attackers were also supported by Vytautas the Great, who fought against his cousin Jogaila for the title of the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Remaining tower of the Upper Castle / At the time of the attack in 1390, the Complex already consisted of three parts – the Upper, Lower and Crooked. The Teutonic Knights managed to take and destroy the Crooked Castle, situated on Bleak Hill (Lithuanian: Plikasis kalnas), but failed to capture the others. During the 1394 attack, the Vilnius Castles were besieged for more than three weeks, and one of its defense towers was damaged and fell into the Neris River. / After a struggle for power between Vytautas and his cousin Jogaila, Vytautas became a ruler of Lithuania in 1392 subject to the terms of the Astrava Agreement. During his reign the Upper Castle underwent its most notable redevelopment. After a major castle fire in 1419, Vytautas initiated a reconstruction of the Upper Castle, as well as fortification of other buildings in the complex. The present-day remains of the Upper Castle are from the era of Vytautas.[2] Before reconstruction took place, Vytautas spent about four years with the Teutonic Order during internal fights with Jogaila. He had the opportunity to study the architecture of the castles of the Teutonic Order, and to adopt some of their elements in his residence in Vilnius. Upper Castle reconstruction / The Upper Castle was reconstructed in Gothic style with glazed green tiling on its roof. The Upper Castle keep hall, on the second floor, was the largest hall (10×30 m) within the complex; it was a little smaller than the hall of the Grand Master’s Palace (15×30 m) in Marienburg, and much larger than the hall at the Duke’s Palace in Trakai Island Castle (10×21 m). Reconstruction of the castle ended in 1422. The state had made plans to host the coronation of the proclaimed king Vytautas the Great in the castle, which were disrupted by his untimely death. / After the 16th century, the Upper Castle was not maintained, and it suffered from neglect. Until the early 17th century, a prison for noblemen was located in the Upper Castle. It was used as a fortress for the last time during the invasion of the Russians in 1655, when for the first time in Lithuanian history, a foreign army captured the entire complex.[3] Six years later, the Polish-Lithuanian army managed to recapture Vilnius and the castles. Afterwards the Upper Castle stood abandoned and was not reconstructed. / The complex suffered major damage during the World Wars. At this time, only the western tower, known as Gediminas Tower, remains standing. It is a symbol of Vilnius and of Lithuania. Only a few remnants of the castle’s keep and other towers survived. / [edit]History of the Lower Castle The Castle Complex has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Prior to the 13th century, its structures were built from wood. In the 13–14th centuries defensive walls, towers and gateways were built from stone; these were reorganized and expanded several times. The only freestanding structures that remain intact are those at the Lower Castle. / The two principal buildings of the Lower Castle are the Royal Palace and Vilnius Cathedral. / [edit]Royal Palace / Main article: Royal Palace of Lithuania Model of Royal Palace Royal Palace / The Royal Palace in the Lower Castle evolved over the years and prospered during the 16th and mid-17th centuries. For four centuries the Palace was the political, administrative and cultural center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[4] / In the 13th and 14th centuries there were stone structures within the palace site; some archeologists believe that a wooden palace stood there as well. The stone Royal Palace was built in the 15th century, apparently after the major fire in 1419.[7] The existing stone buildings and defensive structures of the Lower Castle, which blocked the construction, were demolished. The Royal Palace was built in Gothic style. The Keep of the Upper Castle, as well as the Royal Palace, were meant to host the coronation of Vytautas the Great. The Gothic palace had three wings; research suggests that it was a two-story building with a basement.[11] / The Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander, who later became King of Poland, moved his residence to the Royal Palace, where he met with ambassadors. He ordered the renovation of the palace. After his marriage to a daughter of Moscow’s Grand Duke Ivan III, the royal couple lived and died in the palace. / Sigismund I the Old, after his ascension to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, conducted his affairs in the Royal Palace as well as in Vilnius Cathedral. During the rule of Sigismund I the palace was greatly expanded, to meet new needs of the Grand Duke – another wing was added, as well as a third floor; the gardens were also extended. By contemporary accounts the palace was worth 100,000 ducats.[12] The palace reconstruction plan was probably prepared by Italian architect Bartolomeo Berrecci da Pontassieve, who also designed several other projects in the Kingdom of Poland. In this palace Sigismund the Old welcomed an emissary from the Holy Roman Empire, who introduced Sigismund to Bona Sforza, his second wife, in 1517. / Sigismund’s son Sigismund II Augustus was crowned Grand Duke of Lithuania in the Royal Palace. Augustus carried on with palace development and lived there with his first wife Elisabeth of Austria, daughter of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. She was buried in Vilnius Cathedral.[13] Sigismund II’s second wife, Barbara Radziwill, also lived in the palace. According to contemporary accounts of the Holy See’s emissary, the Royal Palace at that time contained more treasures than the Vatican.[14] Sigismund II also assembled one of the largest collection of books in Europe.[14] / The palace was remodeled in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. The plan was prepared by several Italian architects, including Giovanni Cini da Siena, Bernardino de Gianotis Zanobi, and others. The palace was visited by Ippolito Aldobrandini, who later became Pope Clement VIII. Another major development took place during the reign of the Vasa family. The Royal Palace was refurbished in early Baroque style during the rule of Sigismund III Vasa. Matteo Castello, Giacopo Tencalla, and other artists participated in the 17th century renovation. Devastated Royal Palace. Drawn in the late 18th century / During the rule of Vasas, several notable ceremonies took place in the palace, including the wedding of Duke John, who later became King John III of Sweden, and Sigismund Augustus’ sister Catherine. The first opera in Lithuania was staged in the palace in 1634.[15] Marco Scacchi and Virgilio Puccitelli were the opera’s impresarios. / After the Russian invasion in 1655, the state began weakening, and that negatively affected the Royal Palace. The palace was greatly damaged by war, and its treasures were plundered. After the recapture of the city of Vilnius in 1660-1661, the palace was no longer a suitable state residence, and stood abandoned for about 150 years. In the late 18th century, after the fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, several families lived in parts of the ruined palace. Soon after the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was incorporated into Tsarist Russia, Tsarist officials ordered the demolition of the remaining sections of the Royal Palace.[15] The Palace was almost completely demolished in 1801, and the site was bowered. Only a small portion of the walls survived: the remains were sold to a Jewish merchant who incorporated them into his residential house / The Seimas, Lithuanian Parliament, passed a law resolving that the Royal Palace be rebuilt for ceremonies commemorating the millennium since the first mention of the name of Lithuania in 2009. / [edit]Vilnius Cathedral / Main article: Vilnius Cathedral Present day view of Vilnius Cathedral / The Royal Palace and Vilnius Cathedral formed a complex and stood side by side during the centuries, but the two buildings have different histories.[16] / There is evidence that in pre-Christian times, the pagan god Perkūnas was worshipped at this location. It has been proposed that King of Lithuania, Mindaugas, built the original cathedral in 1251 for his baptism into the Christian rite. After Mindaugas’ death in 1263, the cathedral reverted to the worship of pagan gods.[17] / In 1387, the year that Lithuania converted to Christianity, a second Gothic cathedral with five chapels was built. In 1419 the cathedral burned down. In its place Vytautas built a larger Gothic cathedral. In 1522, the cathedral was renovated, and written sources mentioned a bell tower for the first time.[13] The bell tower was built on the site of a defensive tower of the Lower Castle around the 15th century. After a fire in 1530, the cathedral was rebuilt again, and from 1534 to 1557 more chapels and crypts were added. During this period the cathedral acquired architectural features associated with the Renaissance. After a fire in 1610, it was rebuilt once again, and the two front towers were added. It was renovated and decorated several more times. Chapel of Saint Casimir. / In 1783, the cathedral was reconstructed according to a design by Laurynas Gucevičius in the neoclassical style, and the church acquired its strict quadrangular shape. This design has survived to the present day. Between 1786 and 1792 three sculptures were placed on the roof – Saint Casimir on the south side, Saint Stanislaus on the north, and Saint Helena in the center. These sculptures were removed in 1950 and restored in 1997. / Many famous people are buried in the crypts of the cathedral, among them Vytautas the Great (1430), his brother Sigismund (1440) and his cousin Švitrigaila (1452), Saint Casimir (1484), Alexander (1506), two wives of Sigismund August: Elisabeth of Habsburg (1545) and Barbara Radziwill (1551), and others.[17] / Vilnius Cathedral remains one of the most important Catholic sanctuaries in Lithuania to this day. / [edit]Castle Arsenals Old Arsenal / The Vilnius Castle Complex had two arsenals – the so-called New and Old – during its history. Old Arsenal was established in the 15th century, during the rule of Vytautas the Great.[18] The Old Arsenal was expanded during the reign of Sigismund the Old, and this work was continued by his son Sigismund II Augustus. During the 16th century reconstruction a new wing was built; in the mid-16th century and at the beginning of the 17th century, two more wings were built. According to contemporary accounts, the Old Arsenal at that time housed about 180 heavy cannons.[18] / The New Arsenal was established in one of the oldest castle buildings in the 18th century, by order of the Grand Hetman of Lithuania, Casimir Oginski. The building was used to house soldiers and is well-preserved. Its outer wall was part of the defensive wall system,[19] and during the 16th century its tower guided ships in the Neris river. The arsenal also at times housed castle administration. New Arsenal / During Tzarist rule, the arsenals housed soldiers and military materiel. The buildings suffered major damage during World War II; some sections were restored after World War II and in 1987 and 1997. The arsenals now house the Museum of Applied Art and the National Museum of Lithuania. / [edit]Modern developments A funicular to Gediminas’ Hill, opened in 2003 / Gediminas Tower is probably the best-known structure in the complex today, attracting tourists from around the world. At the top of the tower there is an observation platform, affording a panoramic view of Vilnius. In 2003, as part of the celebrations surrounding the 750th anniversary of the coronation of Mindaugas, the tower was made more accessible by the construction of a lift. It ascends about 70 meters during the 30-second ride, and holds sixteen passengers.[20] Atop the tower, on January 1, 1919, the Lithuanian tricolor was hoisted for the first time.[1] To commemorate this event, January 1 is now Flag Day, and the Lithuanian flag is ceremonially raised in the tower, as well as elsewhere in Lithuania. The tower and the hill, with the flag raised at its summit, are symbols of Lithuania’s statehood and its struggle for independence.[1] / After preservation works were completed at the Gediminas Tower in 1968, it became a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania. The first floor of the tower displays models of ancient Vilnius and the Castle Complex, and an exhibition of photographs taken in Vilnius during the 19th and 20th centuries. The second floor exhibits flags that were used by Vytautas the Great’s army during the Battle of Grunwald, along with authentic weaponry used from the 13th through the 18th centuries. / Other surviving buildings at the Castle Complex house offices of the National Museum of Lithuania and its archeology and numismatics departments, as well as the Museum of Applied Art. The museum contains about one million artifacts, covering a wide historic spectrum.[21] Its collection includes pieces from Lithuania’s prehistoric era, coins used throughout Lithuania’s history, and a wide variety of artifacts dating from the Middle Ages and later. About 250,000 tourists visit the museum…
-
Lithuania (My city) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia / Vilnius Castle Complex / Lithuania Vilnius Castle Complex around 1530 / Built Parts of castle in 10th century / Construction / materials Stone, bricks, wood / In use For defense from 10-17th centuries / Controlled by Lithuania, Russia Vilnius Castle in 1740: / Upper Castle: 1. Western tower; 2. Southern tower (foundations remain); 3. Castle Keep (ruins remain) / Lower Castle: 4. Gates and bridge to the city (Pilies Street); 5. Road and bridge to Tiltas Street; 6. Vilnius Cathedral; 7. Palace of Supreme Tribunal; 8. Palace of bishops; 9. Royal Palace; 10. Palace garden; 11. The New Arsenal, currently a museum; 12. Northeastern tower and gates of the Old Arsenal; 13. Yard of Old Arsenal / The Vilnius Castle Complex (Lithuanian: Vilniaus pilių kompleksas or Vilniaus pilys) is a group of defensive, cultural, and religious buildings on the left bank of the Neris River, near its confluence with the Vilnia River, in Vilnius, Lithuania. The complex evolved between the 10th and 18th centuries, and was one of Lithuania’s major defensive structures.[1] / The complex consisted of three castles: the Upper, the Lower, and the Crooked (Lithuanian: Kreivoji pilis). The Crooked Castle was burnt by the Teutonic Knights in 1390 and was never rebuilt.[2] The Vilnius Castles were attacked several times by the Teutonic Order after 1390, but they never succeeded in capturing the entire complex. The first time any foreign power managed to capture the Vilnius Castle Complex was in 1655.[3] Soon afterwards, the severely damaged castles lost their importance, and many buildings were abandoned. During the Tsarist annexation,4 several historic buildings were demolished; many more were damaged during the fortress construction in the 19th century. / Today, the remaining Gediminas Tower is the symbol of the city of Vilnius.[6] Annually, on the 1st of January, the Lithuanian tricolor is hosted on Gediminas Tower to commemorate Flag Day. The complex is part of the National Museum of Lithuania, one of the largest museums in the country. / Contents [hide] / 1 History of the Upper Castle / 2 History of the Lower Castle / 2.1 Royal Palace / 2.2 Vilnius Cathedral / 2.3 Castle Arsenals / 3 Modern developments / 4 See also / 5 References / 6 External links / [edit]History of the Upper Castle Plan of Vilnius Castle Complex in the 18th century / One part of the castle complex, which was built on a hilltop, is known as the Upper Castle. The hill on which it is built is known as Gediminas Hill, about 40 meters (43.7 yards) in height and around 160 meters (175 yards) in length.[7] / Archaeological data shows that the site has been occupied since Neolithic times. The hill was strengthened with defensive wooden walls that were fortified with stone in the 9th century. Around the 10th century a wooden castle was built, and since about the 13th century the hilltop has been surrounded by stone walls with towers. During the rule of Gediminas Vilnius was designated the capital city; in 1323, the castle was improved and expanded.[8] Remains of Upper Castle`s Keep / Pagan Lithuania waged war with the Christian Orders for more than two centuries.[9] The Orders were seeking to conquer Lithuania, stating that their motivation was the conversion of pagan Lithuanians to Catholicism. As Vilnius evolved into one of the most important cities in the state, it became a primary war target. The Vilnius Castles were attacked by the Teutonic Order in 1365, 1375, 1377, 1383, 1390, 1392, 1394 and 1402, but the castles were never taken completely.[2] The most damaging assaults were led by the Teutonic Order marshals Engelhard Rabe von Wildstein and Konrad von Wallenrode in 1390 as part of Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392). Many noblemen from Western Europe participated in this military campaign, including Henry, Duke of Derby, the future king Henry IV of England, with 300 knights, and the Livonian Knights, who were commanded by the Grand Master.[10] The attackers were also supported by Vytautas the Great, who fought against his cousin Jogaila for the title of the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Remaining tower of the Upper Castle / At the time of the attack in 1390, the Complex already consisted of three parts – the Upper, Lower and Crooked. The Teutonic Knights managed to take and destroy the Crooked Castle, situated on Bleak Hill (Lithuanian: Plikasis kalnas), but failed to capture the others. During the 1394 attack, the Vilnius Castles were besieged for more than three weeks, and one of its defense towers was damaged and fell into the Neris River. / After a struggle for power between Vytautas and his cousin Jogaila, Vytautas became a ruler of Lithuania in 1392 subject to the terms of the Astrava Agreement. During his reign the Upper Castle underwent its most notable redevelopment. After a major castle fire in 1419, Vytautas initiated a reconstruction of the Upper Castle, as well as fortification of other buildings in the complex. The present-day remains of the Upper Castle are from the era of Vytautas.[2] Before reconstruction took place, Vytautas spent about four years with the Teutonic Order during internal fights with Jogaila. He had the opportunity to study the architecture of the castles of the Teutonic Order, and to adopt some of their elements in his residence in Vilnius. Upper Castle reconstruction / The Upper Castle was reconstructed in Gothic style with glazed green tiling on its roof. The Upper Castle keep hall, on the second floor, was the largest hall (10×30 m) within the complex; it was a little smaller than the hall of the Grand Master’s Palace (15×30 m) in Marienburg, and much larger than the hall at the Duke’s Palace in Trakai Island Castle (10×21 m). Reconstruction of the castle ended in 1422. The state had made plans to host the coronation of the proclaimed king Vytautas the Great in the castle, which were disrupted by his untimely death. / After the 16th century, the Upper Castle was not maintained, and it suffered from neglect. Until the early 17th century, a prison for noblemen was located in the Upper Castle. It was used as a fortress for the last time during the invasion of the Russians in 1655, when for the first time in Lithuanian history, a foreign army captured the entire complex.[3] Six years later, the Polish-Lithuanian army managed to recapture Vilnius and the castles. Afterwards the Upper Castle stood abandoned and was not reconstructed. / The complex suffered major damage during the World Wars. At this time, only the western tower, known as Gediminas Tower, remains standing. It is a symbol of Vilnius and of Lithuania. Only a few remnants of the castle’s keep and other towers survived. / [edit]History of the Lower Castle The Castle Complex has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Prior to the 13th century, its structures were built from wood. In the 13–14th centuries defensive walls, towers and gateways were built from stone; these were reorganized and expanded several times. The only freestanding structures that remain intact are those at the Lower Castle. / The two principal buildings of the Lower Castle are the Royal Palace and Vilnius Cathedral. / [edit]Royal Palace / Main article: Royal Palace of Lithuania Model of Royal Palace Royal Palace / The Royal Palace in the Lower Castle evolved over the years and prospered during the 16th and mid-17th centuries. For four centuries the Palace was the political, administrative and cultural center of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.[4] / In the 13th and 14th centuries there were stone structures within the palace site; some archeologists believe that a wooden palace stood there as well. The stone Royal Palace was built in the 15th century, apparently after the major fire in 1419.[7] The existing stone buildings and defensive structures of the Lower Castle, which blocked the construction, were demolished. The Royal Palace was built in Gothic style. The Keep of the Upper Castle, as well as the Royal Palace, were meant to host the coronation of Vytautas the Great. The Gothic palace had three wings; research suggests that it was a two-story building with a basement.[11] / The Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander, who later became King of Poland, moved his residence to the Royal Palace, where he met with ambassadors. He ordered the renovation of the palace. After his marriage to a daughter of Moscow’s Grand Duke Ivan III, the royal couple lived and died in the palace. / Sigismund I the Old, after his ascension to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, conducted his affairs in the Royal Palace as well as in Vilnius Cathedral. During the rule of Sigismund I the palace was greatly expanded, to meet new needs of the Grand Duke – another wing was added, as well as a third floor; the gardens were also extended. By contemporary accounts the palace was worth 100,000 ducats.[12] The palace reconstruction plan was probably prepared by Italian architect Bartolomeo Berrecci da Pontassieve, who also designed several other projects in the Kingdom of Poland. In this palace Sigismund the Old welcomed an emissary from the Holy Roman Empire, who introduced Sigismund to Bona Sforza, his second wife, in 1517. / Sigismund’s son Sigismund II Augustus was crowned Grand Duke of Lithuania in the Royal Palace. Augustus carried on with palace development and lived there with his first wife Elisabeth of Austria, daughter of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. She was buried in Vilnius Cathedral.[13] Sigismund II’s second wife, Barbara Radziwill, also lived in the palace. According to contemporary accounts of the Holy See’s emissary, the Royal Palace at that time contained more treasures than the Vatican.[14] Sigismund II also assembled one of the largest collection of books in Europe.[14] / The palace was remodeled in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. The plan was prepared by several Italian architects, including Giovanni Cini da Siena, Bernardino de Gianotis Zanobi, and others. The palace was visited by Ippolito Aldobrandini, who later became Pope Clement VIII. Another major development took place during the reign of the Vasa family. The Royal Palace was refurbished in early Baroque style during the rule of Sigismund III Vasa. Matteo Castello, Giacopo Tencalla, and other artists participated in the 17th century renovation. Devastated Royal Palace. Drawn in the late 18th century / During the rule of Vasas, several notable ceremonies took place in the palace, including the wedding of Duke John, who later became King John III of Sweden, and Sigismund Augustus’ sister Catherine. The first opera in Lithuania was staged in the palace in 1634.[15] Marco Scacchi and Virgilio Puccitelli were the opera’s impresarios. / After the Russian invasion in 1655, the state began weakening, and that negatively affected the Royal Palace. The palace was greatly damaged by war, and its treasures were plundered. After the recapture of the city of Vilnius in 1660-1661, the palace was no longer a suitable state residence, and stood abandoned for about 150 years. In the late 18th century, after the fall of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, several families lived in parts of the ruined palace. Soon after the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was incorporated into Tsarist Russia, Tsarist officials ordered the demolition of the remaining sections of the Royal Palace.[15] The Palace was almost completely demolished in 1801, and the site was bowered. Only a small portion of the walls survived: the remains were sold to a Jewish merchant who incorporated them into his residential house / The Seimas, Lithuanian Parliament, passed a law resolving that the Royal Palace be rebuilt for ceremonies commemorating the millennium since the first mention of the name of Lithuania in 2009. / [edit]Vilnius Cathedral / Main article: Vilnius Cathedral Present day view of Vilnius Cathedral / The Royal Palace and Vilnius Cathedral formed a complex and stood side by side during the centuries, but the two buildings have different histories.[16] / There is evidence that in pre-Christian times, the pagan god Perkūnas was worshipped at this location. It has been proposed that King of Lithuania, Mindaugas, built the original cathedral in 1251 for his baptism into the Christian rite. After Mindaugas’ death in 1263, the cathedral reverted to the worship of pagan gods.[17] / In 1387, the year that Lithuania converted to Christianity, a second Gothic cathedral with five chapels was built. In 1419 the cathedral burned down. In its place Vytautas built a larger Gothic cathedral. In 1522, the cathedral was renovated, and written sources mentioned a bell tower for the first time.[13] The bell tower was built on the site of a defensive tower of the Lower Castle around the 15th century. After a fire in 1530, the cathedral was rebuilt again, and from 1534 to 1557 more chapels and crypts were added. During this period the cathedral acquired architectural features associated with the Renaissance. After a fire in 1610, it was rebuilt once again, and the two front towers were added. It was renovated and decorated several more times. Chapel of Saint Casimir. / In 1783, the cathedral was reconstructed according to a design by Laurynas Gucevičius in the neoclassical style, and the church acquired its strict quadrangular shape. This design has survived to the present day. Between 1786 and 1792 three sculptures were placed on the roof – Saint Casimir on the south side, Saint Stanislaus on the north, and Saint Helena in the center. These sculptures were removed in 1950 and restored in 1997. / Many famous people are buried in the crypts of the cathedral, among them Vytautas the Great (1430), his brother Sigismund (1440) and his cousin Švitrigaila (1452), Saint Casimir (1484), Alexander (1506), two wives of Sigismund August: Elisabeth of Habsburg (1545) and Barbara Radziwill (1551), and others.[17] / Vilnius Cathedral remains one of the most important Catholic sanctuaries in Lithuania to this day. / [edit]Castle Arsenals Old Arsenal / The Vilnius Castle Complex had two arsenals – the so-called New and Old – during its history. Old Arsenal was established in the 15th century, during the rule of Vytautas the Great.[18] The Old Arsenal was expanded during the reign of Sigismund the Old, and this work was continued by his son Sigismund II Augustus. During the 16th century reconstruction a new wing was built; in the mid-16th century and at the beginning of the 17th century, two more wings were built. According to contemporary accounts, the Old Arsenal at that time housed about 180 heavy cannons.[18] / The New Arsenal was established in one of the oldest castle buildings in the 18th century, by order of the Grand Hetman of Lithuania, Casimir Oginski. The building was used to house soldiers and is well-preserved. Its outer wall was part of the defensive wall system,[19] and during the 16th century its tower guided ships in the Neris river. The arsenal also at times housed castle administration. New Arsenal / During Tzarist rule, the arsenals housed soldiers and military materiel. The buildings suffered major damage during World War II; some sections were restored after World War II and in 1987 and 1997. The arsenals now house the Museum of Applied Art and the National Museum of Lithuania. / [edit]Modern developments A funicular to Gediminas’ Hill, opened in 2003 / Gediminas Tower is probably the best-known structure in the complex today, attracting tourists from around the world. At the top of the tower there is an observation platform, affording a panoramic view of Vilnius. In 2003, as part of the celebrations surrounding the 750th anniversary of the coronation of Mindaugas, the tower was made more accessible by the construction of a lift. It ascends about 70 meters during the 30-second ride, and holds sixteen passengers.[20] Atop the tower, on January 1, 1919, the Lithuanian tricolor was hoisted for the first time.[1] To commemorate this event, January 1 is now Flag Day, and the Lithuanian flag is ceremonially raised in the tower, as well as elsewhere in Lithuania. The tower and the hill, with the flag raised at its summit, are symbols of Lithuania’s statehood and its struggle for independence.[1] / After preservation works were completed at the Gediminas Tower in 1968, it became a branch of the National Museum of Lithuania. The first floor of the tower displays models of ancient Vilnius and the Castle Complex, and an exhibition of photographs taken in Vilnius during the 19th and 20th centuries. The second floor exhibits flags that were used by Vytautas the Great’s army during the Battle of Grunwald, along with authentic weaponry used from the 13th through the 18th centuries. / Other surviving buildings at the Castle Complex house offices of the National Museum of Lithuania and its archeology and numismatics departments, as well as the Museum of Applied Art. The museum contains about one million artifacts, covering a wide historic spectrum.[21] Its collection includes pieces from Lithuania’s prehistoric era, coins used throughout Lithuania’s history, and a wide variety of artifacts dating from the Middle Ages and later. About 250,000 tourists visit the museum…
-
Double up of St Johns Cathedral in Brisbane, Qld, Australia
-
8×10 Watercolour painting on Arches Paper with a touch of pastel to add texture. I stand and stare in awe at my find / this idyllic place fills my mind. / Time stands still as the mist rolls in and / The sunset announces night will begin. / I feel an awakening deep inside / peace replaces fear and my worries subside. Lindahttp://images-3.redbubble.net/img/art/border:blackwithdetail/product:laminated-print/size:small/view:preview/2997824-3-misty-sky.jpg! Featured in / ALL THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW / SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION
-
Visiting and dreaming / Are the realities of the hope-world. / Crying and obtaining / Are the realities of the prayer-world. / Silencing and becoming / Are the realities of the meditation-world.Sri Chinmoy “Realities” is a collaborative work based on the wonderful photography of Eric Thom, but also includes my Clematis prints…see links below…although Eric’s photos are images of doors and windows of buildings, I saw them as more than that…I decided to create a collage of transfer prints to give the illusion of the interior of a place of worship, with light pouring in on those who come to meditate…..the large shape on the right is symbolic of all the floral tributes we make at the important events in our lives…Sri Chinmoys verse expresses all that the painting is meant to convey / / Inks and Bleach Pen on Saunders Hot Press Paper Eric Thom Advance You Really Don’t Want In Barrier To The Outside
-
Interior of the Pantheon in Paris, France. This was taken with a Canon DSLR EOS 350D camera and a 18-55 mm lens. The Panthéon (Latin Pantheon, from Greek Pantheon, meaning “All the Gods”) is a building in the Latin Quarter in Paris, France. It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, but after many changes now combines liturgical functions with its role as a famous burial place. It is an early example of Neoclassicism, with a façade modelled on the Pantheon in Rome, surmounted by a small dome that owes some of its character to Bramante’s “Tempietto”. Located in the 5th arrondissement on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, the Panthéon looks out over all of Paris. Its architect, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, had the intention of combining the lightness and brightness of the gothic cathedral with classical principles. Soufflot died before his work was achieved, and his plans were not entirely followed. The transparency he had planned for his masterpiece was not attained. Nevertheless, it is one of the most important architectural achievements of its time and the first great neoclassical monument. I sold a large framed print with black frame and bright white matt to a lovely couple in Geneva, Switzerland. Many thanks indeed.
-
/ / Original pencil drawing on Aquarelle Arches paper 56×76cm / Drawing 15 hours/painting 12 hours = 27 hours total A digitally painted hand drawn artwork… the inspiration for this is “Meeting Places”... As a child one of the most frequent things we did together as a family was to attend church on Sundays, I went to a Catholic School and the church I remember best was St Agnes’ at Port Macquarie… the nuns would come over for morning tea sometimes, and the priests would come for dinner occasionally…they were the days of fun parish picnics and life that wasn’t so hurried..when we took time to socialise, meeting and enjoying one another’s company. Mum was/is a great cook and host…and although this picture isn’t authentic as a portrait of her and myself…it’s representative. It’s also representative of new life and hope for the future, as the mother figure is with child….. and the child herself nurtures the wildlife…perhaps she is taking them to church for a blessing… perhaps the joey has lost his mother and needs nursing til he can fend for himself. The kookaburra is all seeing and all knowing….. the wise overseer of the bush… in this case, he stands in as the owl figure.
-
Second Place in the “Houses of Worship” challenge in The World As We See It, or as we missed it November 17, 2009. / Featured in The World As We See It , or as we missed it November 12, 2009. / Top Ten in “Sunday Morning” challenge in Mood & Ambience October 18, 2009. / Featured in Live and Let Live September 22, 2009. / Featured in ! # 1 Artists of RedBubble! September 22, 2009. Best seen on full size This sweet little church, at the corner of Triadelphia and Sharp Roads in Glenelg, Maryland, stands empty. Probably built around 1900, it was most recently used as the home and studio of a local artist who has since gone to live in the sunnier climate of Mexico. Happily, the congregation of this beautiful little chapel didn’t die out, as so often happens, but instead grew too large for this structure and built a much larger church not far down the road. I was quite excited to have the opportunity to tour here July 26, 2009 when the realtor was holding an open house, as I’d driven past many times and had always wanted to investigate!! Image taken with the handheld Nikon D300 and the 18-200mm vr Nikon lens, shutter 1/250, aperture f/8.0, exp -.33, iso 500. Post work included hdr from 4 images at +3, +1, 0 and -2 evals … all duplicated and adjusted in Photoshop. Subsequent Orton technique was applied in PS, as were three textures at various blendings, and the brushed-in clouds. Included below is a capture of one of the windows in which, if you look carefully, you can see a reflection of the church bell … / which was directly behind me as I shot the window … My thanks to Princess of Shadows on Deviant Art and Ghostbones of Flickr for the great textures and to Obsidian Dawn for the cloud brushes.
-
Another christmar card, and a reload.
-
This is one of three churches in Buninyong, Victoria Australia.. / Buninyong is the first inland town to discover gold.. / it lies between Ballarat and Geelong.. / I made these snow globes with help from photoshop..lol.. / enjoy.. / The photos in snow globe were taken by me.. /
RedBubble is a great place to find art, design, photos and writing from over 80,000 talented people.
You can buy their stuff
On stunning greeting cards, awesome t-shirts or beautiful prints to hang on your walls.
Risk Free Returns
It’s really simple. If you’re not happy with your purchase for any reason, we’ll fix it.
About RedBubble
Since February 2007 we’ve shipped over 309,900 items to more than 70 countries around the world.
Join In
Sign up for your free account, upload your work, join some groups and share your creative genius with the world.