A Chronicle of Fountains

A Chronicle of Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a learned man, ruled the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of old classical Greek texts into Latin. Beautifying Rome and making it the worthy capital of the Christian world was at the core of his ambitions. At the behest of the Pope, the Aqua Vergine, a damaged aqueduct which had carried clean drinking water into Rome from eight miles away, was restored starting in 1453. A mostra, a monumental commemorative fountain constructed by ancient Romans to mark the point of entry of an aqueduct, was a tradition which was revived by Nicholas V. The Trevi Fountain now occupies the area previously filled with a wall fountain crafted by Leon Battista Albert, an architect employed by the Pope. The Trevi Fountain as well as the well-known baroque fountains found in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona were eventually supplied with water from the altered aqueduct he had rebuilt.

The Father Of Roman Water Feature Design

The Father Of Roman Water Feature Design In Rome’s city center, there are many celebrated fountains. Almost all of them were planned, designed and built by one of the finest sculptors and designers of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. He was furthermore a urban designer, in addition to his skills as a water fountain engineer, and records of his life's work are noticeable throughout the avenues of Rome. A renowned Florentine sculptor, Bernini's father guided his young son, and they eventually moved to Rome to fully showcase their artwork, primarily in the form of public water features and water features. The young Bernini received encouragement from Popes and relevant artists alike, and was an exceptional employee. Originally he was renowned for his sculpting skills. He made use of his expertise and melded it gracefully with Roman marble, most notably in the Vatican. Though many artists had an influence on his work, Michelangelo had the most profound effect.