Rome, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, And Statuary Fountains
Rome, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, And Statuary Fountains There are many popular fountains in the city center of Rome. One of the most distinguished sculptors and designers of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini planned, conceptualized and constructed almost all of them.
Also a city designer, he had capabilities as a fountain designer, and marks of his life's work are noticeable throughout the roads of Rome. Bernini's father, a celebrated Florentine sculptor, mentored his young son, and they finally relocated in Rome, to fully exhibit their art in the form of community water features and water fountains. The juvenile Bernini was an great worker and earned encouragement and backing of significant artists as well as popes. Originally he was well known for his sculpting skills. An authority in historical Greek architecture, he used this knowledge as a foundation and melded it seamlessly with Roman marble, most remarkably in the Vatican. Though many artists impacted his artistic endeavors, Michelangelo influenced him the most.
Modern Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Beginnings
Modern Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Beginnings
The incredible architecture of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to enhance your home. Originally, fountains only served a functional purpose. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Up until the nineteenth, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water source, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Artists thought of fountains as amazing additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and celebrate the designer responsible for building it. The main materials used by the Romans to create their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners incorporated fountains to create mini variations of the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. To mark the entryway of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the building of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts arrived in the city of Rome
Urban fountains created at the end of the nineteenth functioned only as decorative and celebratory adornments since indoor plumbing provided the necessary drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Modern fountains are used to embellish community spaces, honor individuals or events, and enhance recreational and entertainment events.
Choose from all Kinds of Outdoor Fountains
Choose from all Kinds of Outdoor Fountains Have you ever thought about turning your garden into an oasis of serenity? You can benefit from a water feature by adding an outdoor fountain to your backyard and creating a place of serenity.The flood of water sent shooting into the air by a spouting fountain is an impressive sight to see. Large, existing ponds can have one of these built-in without much hassle. These kinds of fountains are often found in parks or historical stately homes.
One of the myriad examples of an outdoor water feature is a stylish wall fountain. Even with a smallish backyard, it is feasible to add one of these water features. Wall fountains are not flamboyant water features as compared to a spouting fountain. In this straightforward process, water is ejected from a little spout, flows down a beautifully textured wall, before being received at the bottom and returned to the top once again.
Your garden’s style determines whether a themed fountain is best for you. A cherub holding a spout is one of the possible types of classical-styled statues you can use if you want your fountain to suit a rustically themed cottage or garden.
think about including something bolder and distinctive for a contemporary garden. Choosing what to do is completely in your hands.
Water streams down multiple levels in a tiered fountain. Cascading fountains is another expression used to identify this type of fountain because water streams down multiple levels.
A substantial amount of space is necessary for an outdoor fountain, so another alternative is to install a wall fountain or a pondless fountain. Fit in one of these fountains if your space is limited since their reservoirs are concealed from sight underground.
Japanese fountains are thought to impart a sense of tranquility and well-being. Bamboo sticks are used in this sort of fountain to expel the water. The cycle of water flowing into a rustic-styled recipient or a shaped stone repeats itself again and again.
Glass fountains make up another group of fountain. Producing a more classical appearance are trellis-style fountains which showcase shaped metalwork. Gardens with numerous sharp edges as well as modern forms and designs are better for these sorts of water features. The water produces a spectacular effect when it streams down the surface of the glass. LED lighting fixtures are also used in some fountains to flash color across the water as it flows downward on the glass sheet. A rock waterfall fountain (often made of imitation rock) shows off water gently flowing down its façade.
In a bubbling rock fountain, a big rock is drilled with holes and then filled in the middle with tubes. Low pressure is employed to spout out the water which then bubbles and gurgles at the top. Flowing towards the bottom of the fountain, the water returns as a slow drizzle down the sides of the rock. This is yet another possibility for gardens with restricted space. The low pressure used in this sort of fountain prevents water from being splashed about in case of a windy day.
The trend of setting up solar powered fountains is becoming progressively widespread. There are numerous reasons for this newly found interest such as the absence of cables, less difficulty in running them, a reduction in electricity bills, and the benefits to the environment. You will not have to concede on style since there is a wide selection of designs to pick from in outdoor solar-powered fountains.
The Various Construction Materials of Landscape Fountains
The Various Construction Materials of Landscape Fountains While today’s garden fountains are made in a number of materials, most are made from metal. Metallic versions offer clean lines and unique sculptural accents and will fit in with nearly any decorative style and budget. If you have a modern look and feel to your interior design, your yard and garden should have that same style. Today, many people favor copper for their sculptural garden fountains. Copper is appropriate for many fountain styles, including tabletop and cascade water fountains, and can be placed either inside or outside - making it a great choice. Copper fountains also come in a vast array of styles - from fun and eccentric to modern and cutting-edge.
Brass water fountains are also popular, although they tend to have a more traditional look than copper ones. Though not the most stylish, the creatures and sculptural features you find on fountains are mostly made of brass, thus making them very popular.
Of all the metals, stainless steel is recognized as the most modern -looking. Adding a modern-looking steel design will immediately add value to your garden and elevate the overall atmosphere. Like all water fountains, you can get them in just about any size you choose.
Fiberglass is a widely used material for fountains because you can get the look and feel of metal at a much lower price, and it is lighter weight and easier to move than metal. Caring for a fiberglass water fountain is quite easy, another benefit that consumers love.
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Outdoor Fountains
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Outdoor Fountains To ensure that water fountains last a long time, it is vital to perform regular maintenance. It is easy for foreign items to find their way into outside fountains, so keeping it clean is essential. Another factor is that water that is subjected to sunlight is vulnerable to growing algae.
Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be dissolved into the water to avoid this issue. Another option is to blend bleach into the water, but this action can harm wild animals and so should really be avoided. Experts recommend that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough cleaning every 3-4 months. The first step is to empty out all the water. Next use gentle and a soft sponge to clean the interior of the reservoir. If there are any tiny grooves, use a toothbrush to reach each and every spot. Be sure to carefully rinse the inner surface of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
It is highly advised taking the pump apart to better clean the inside and eliminate any plankton or calcium. Soaking it in vinegar for a bit will make it easier to clean. Build-up can be a big problem, so use mineral or rain water over tap water, when possible, to eliminate this dilemma.
Finally, be sure to have a quick look at your fountain daily and add water if you notice that the level is low. Allowing the water to reach below the pump’s intake level, can cause serious damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!
Agrippa’s Intriguing Water-lifting Gadget
Agrippa’s Intriguing Water-lifting Gadget Regrettably, Agrippa’s excellent plan for raising water was not cited much after 1588, when Andrea Bacci acclaimed it openly. It may possibly be that the Acqua Felice, the second of Rome’s earliest modern aqueducts made the device outdated when it was hooked up to the Villa Medici in 1592. The more plausible reason is that the device was forgotten when Franceso di Medici, Ferdinando’s siblingdied in 1588, leading him to give up his job as cardinal and go back to Florence where he accepted the throne as the Grand Duke of Tuscany. It could violate the force of gravity to lift water to Renaissance gardens, feeding them in a way other late sixteenth century models like scenographic water exhibits, music fountains and giochi d’acqua or water caprices, were not.
The Myriad Reasons to Add a Fountain
The Myriad Reasons to Add a Fountain The inclusion of a wall water feature or an outdoor garden fountain is an excellent way to beautify your yard or garden design. Many current designers and craftsmen have been influenced by historical fountains and water features. You can also strengthen the connection to the past by including one of these to your home's interior design. The benefit of having a garden fountain extends beyond its beauty as it also attracts birds and other wildlife, in addition to harmonizing the ecosystem with the water and moisture it releases into the atmosphere. Birds drawn to a fountain or bird bath often scare away irritating flying invaders, for instance. The space necessary for a cascading or spouting fountain is substantial, so a wall fountain is the perfect size for a small yard. Two possibilities to pick from include either a freestanding type with an even back set against a fence or wall in your garden, or a wall-mounted, self-contained type which hangs on a wall. Both a fountain mask placed on the existing wall as well as a basin located at the bottom to collect the water are equired if you wish to include a fountain. Be sure to hire a professional for this type of job since it is better not to do it yourself due to the intricate plumbing and masonry work needed.