This light-hearted offering for LMAC episode #57 is inspired by Venice, Italy. When I saw @shaka's template photo this week:
I immediately thought of the Rialto Bridge, in Venice, Italy.
The Rialto
Contemporary Rialto Bridge
Image credit: Peter89ba on Pixabay
The Rialto crosses the Grand Canal. The canal leads to the Adriatic Sea, by way of the Bacino di San Marco (St. Marks Basin).
Bacino di San Marco (St. Marks Basin)
Painting by Caneletto, 1738-1740. Oil on canvas. Public domain
The Rialto that exists today was built in the sixteenth century.
Rialto Bridge, 1740s
Painting by Canaletto. Oil on Canvas. Public domain
There had been several bridges before, in the same place. Some were made of timber. Some collapsed. At least one suffered fire damage.
Finally, it was decided a stone bridge should be built over the Grand Canal. The winning design was submitted by Antonio da Ponte. (Another candidate was Michelangelo!) Construction took three years, 1588-1561. The bridge is made of marble.
Detail, Central Arc, Rialto Bridge
Image credit: Joanbanjo. Used under a CC 3.0 license.
The first bridge to cross the Grand Canal, constructed in 1181, was a pontoon bridge. It floated on ships and was called Ponte della Moneta (Bridge of the Coin) because pedestrians had to pay a toll in order to cross.
The Gondola
The first known reference to a gondola (gondolum) is contained in a letter written in 1094 by the Doge of Venice. Venice historian Laura Morelli (lauramorelli.com), explains that the first pictures of a gondola do not appear until the late fifteenth century.
Hunting on the Lagoon, (c.1490-1495)
Image credit: Vittore Carpaccio, Google Art Project. Public domain
The design of the gondola was strictly controlled by boat-making guilds. Balance in the boat shifted over the years to insure that one gondolier could steer the craft nimbly in Venice's narrow, shallow canals.
Gondola Races on the Grand Canal in Venice, 1830s
Image credit: Grigory Gargarin, (1810-1893). Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Public domain.
Being a gondolier became a generational legacy. Fathers handed down the occupation to their sons. According to the Guardian, today there are only 433 gondoliers, and 180 substitute gondoliers. The number of passengers a gondola may carry has been reduced from six to five. It seems people are fatter than they used to be (so explains the head of the substitute gondolier union).
Gardening in Venice
How does one garden in a city with very little available space? According to Andy McIndoe, writing for Guardian Select, one uses window boxes, balconies and climbers.
Window Box
Image credit: Daniel Comeschi, Unsplash Public domain
Mr. McIndoe reports that camelias flourish in the boxes, as does the "evergreen climber Trachelosperumum jasminoides". Balconies also feature brilliant displays of pelargoniums.
Pelargonium (?) in Venetian Window Boxes
Image credit: Cyclops1. Public domain
Some window displays are less dramatic, but still evince the desire to garden.
Window Boxes in Venice
Antonio Molinari, Unsplash. Public domain
My Collage
As is always the case with my effort on LMAC, the collage went through many iterations. One I rejected showed the balloon descending:
Notice the landscape here is relatively bereft of flowers. I added more color and made the balloon stationary for the final picture.
I had to split the picture in two (mirror the sides to give a canal effect) and add a bridge. That's where the Rialto came in.
There were so many iterations after that, I lose track.
Eventually I got rid of the gondola station on the lower right and added the angel.Pixabay
A variety of boats were added, then taken away, then added :)) until I settled upon this picture.
The various elements, in addition to those already credited in the blog:
Venice balcony
Flowers
Flower 2
Flower 3
Gondolier
Gondolier 2
Balloon
Many flowers and plants were added from Paint 3D. Gimp and Paint were used to added effects.
If any of my readers wonder why I go through all of this for a simple collage and blog, please look around the world. Things have been pretty grim lately. It's wonderful to lose myself in this creative exercise, no matter how the effort turns out. I highly recommend the diversion to all :))
Thank you, @shaka. And thank you, everyone in the LMAC community who participates. Anyone who would like to join in this week's round or in future rounds, check out @shaka's blog for rules and to see other entries. If you are feeling insecure about your ability to participate, check out LMAC School, taught by our very own @quantumg.
