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There
are two kinds of sculptures that are used to ornament
gardens. There are the classical garden statues which
are generally ideal for historic gardens and contemporary
garden sculptures statues which are better suited for
contemporary gardens. In ancient times, sculptures were
traditionally used to decorate gardens but this practice
became obsolete over time. The practice was, however,
eventually revived in the Renaissance period and is currently
still employed by different people around the world for
different reasons. In some parts of the world sculptures
were once so synonymous with gardens that the art of sculpting
had become part of the garden-design-learning programs
there.
Abstract metal garden sculptures like wire garden sculptures
became popular in the twentieth century when sculpture
themes were inspired by nature. Nature was also a recurring
theme in ancient stone garden sculptures and bronze garden
sculptures as was mythology. This can be seen in the countless
mini garden sculptures as well as life-size sculptures
of Gods and Goddesses in both Western and Indian sculpting.
During the Renaissance period, gardens in Italy were literally
akin to outdoor museums. These gardens were decorated
with actual, classical sculptures that had been unearthed
at the ruins of Greece and Rome. For example, the Belvedere
garden in Vatican City was one such well-adorned garden
in that era.
In France in the early sixteenth century, garden design
gained popularity as a regal art-form and with this, came
the French fondness for collecting sculptures. King Louis
XIV was believed to have a huge collection of garden sculptures
at Versailles while Charles II, had casts of antique statues
made for his garden in London in the late seventeenth
century.
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