Closer view of lions and heavy lintel

© 2005 Saskia Cultural Documentation, Ltd.

Landscape with swallows (Spring Fresco), from Room Delta 2, Akrotiri, Thera (Cyclades), Greece, ca. 1650 BCE. Fresco, approx. 7’ 6” high. National Archaeological Museum, Athens.

Lamassu (winged, human-headed bull), from the citadel of Sargon II, Dur Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad), Iraq, ca. 720–705 BCE. Limestone, approx. 13’ 10” high. Louvre, Paris.These winged, man-headed bulls served to ward off the the kings enemies, visible and invisible -- guardian figures.

Hypostyle hall, temple of Amen-Re, Karnak, Egypt, ca. 1290–1224 BCE.The hypostyle hall (roof supported by many columns) uses post and lintel construction. The columns are 60 ft. high with 22 ft. diameter capitals. There are 2 types of capitals ( bud and bell shaped). The horizontal bands of relief sculpture on the columns are painted and almost conceal the column’s function; artist uses surface for decoration (unlike Greek columns).

RAPHAEL, Galatea, Sala di Galatea, Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy, 1513. Fresco, 9’ 8” x 7’ 5”.

Raphael's joyful and exuberant fresco of Galatea in the Villa Farnesina shows the nymph on a shell, surrounded by sea creatures and cupids.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, Kaufmann House (Fallingwater), 1939