Bernini's Fountains

Bernini's Fountains In Rome’s city center, there are countless easily recognized water features. One of the best ever sculptors and artists of the 17th century, almost all of them were designed, conceptualized and built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Marks of his life's work are evident all through the streets of Rome because, in addition to his abilities as a water fountain builder, he was also a city architect. Ultimately transferring to Rome to fully express their artwork, chiefly in the form of community water fountains, Bernini’s father, a renowned Florentine sculptor, mentored his young son. An excellent worker, the young Bernini received praise and the backing of various popes and influential designers. Bernini's Fountains 211362051141475247.jpg

He was originally recognized for his sculpture. Most particularly in the Vatican, he used a base of knowledge in ancient Greek architecture and melded it flawlessly with Roman marble. Though a variety of artists impacted his artistic endeavors, Michelangelo influenced him the most.

The Public Fountains

The Public Fountains Water fountains were at first practical in purpose, used to deliver water from rivers or creeks to towns and villages, providing the inhabitants with fresh water to drink, bathe, and cook with. To produce water flow through a fountain until the later part of the 1800’s, and generate a jet of water, required gravity and a water source such as a creek or lake, positioned higher than the fountain. Striking and spectacular, big water fountains have been built as monuments in many societies. The contemporary fountains of today bear little likeness to the very first water fountains. The first recognized water fountain was a rock basin created that served as a receptacle for drinking water and ceremonial functions. Rock basins as fountains have been recovered from 2000 B.C.. Early fountains put to use in ancient civilizations depended on gravity to control the flow of water through the fountain. Drinking water was delivered by public fountains, long before fountains became ornate public monuments, as beautiful as they are practical. Fountains with elaborate decoration began to appear in Rome in approx. 6 BC, normally gods and wildlife, made with natural stone or bronze. The City of Rome had an intricate system of aqueducts that provided the water for the numerous fountains that were placed throughout the city.