Back Story of Fountains
Back Story of Fountains The translation of hundreds of classic Greek documents into Latin was commissioned by the learned Pope Nicholas V who led the Church in Rome from 1397 till 1455. In order to make Rome worthy of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope decided to embellish the beauty of the city.
Restoration of the Acqua Vergine, a desolate Roman aqueduct which had carried fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away, began in 1453 at the behest of the Pope. The ancient Roman tradition of building an awe-inspiring commemorative fountain at the point where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was resurrected by Nicholas V. The present-day site of the Trevi Fountain was formerly occupied by a wall fountain commissioned by the Pope and constructed by the architect Leon Battista Alberti. The Trevi Fountain as well as the renowned baroque fountains found in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona were eventually supplied with water from the altered aqueduct he had reconstructed.
The Genesis Of Garden Fountains
The Genesis Of Garden Fountains The dramatic or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to supplying drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.Originally, fountains only served a practical purpose. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs in the vicinity. Up to the late 19th century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and higher than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow down or shoot high into the air.
Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to decorate living areas and celebrate the designer. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exercise his power over nature. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. The creation of unique water effects and the recycling of water were two things made possible by replacing gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for community spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational gatherings.
The Original Water Fountains
The Original Water Fountains Water fountains were at first practical in function, used to convey water from canals or springs to cities and villages, supplying the residents with fresh water to drink, bathe, and cook with. In the days before electric power, the spray of fountains was powered by gravity exclusively, often using an aqueduct or water resource located far away in the surrounding hills.
The appeal and spectacle of fountains make them appropriate for historic monuments. The contemporary fountains of modern times bear little resemblance to the first water fountains. The very first known water fountain was a stone basin carved that was used as a receptacle for drinking water and ceremonial purposes. The original stone basins are suspected to be from about 2000 B.C.. The first civilizations that made use of fountains depended on gravity to force water through spigots. These ancient fountains were built to be functional, commonly situated along aqueducts, creeks and rivers to provide drinking water. Fountains with ornamental Gods, mythological monsters, and animals began to show up in Rome in about 6 B.C., crafted from rock and bronze. The remarkable aqueducts of Rome delivered water to the eye-catching public fountains, many of which you can visit today.
"Old School" Water Fountain Manufacturers
"Old School" Water Fountain Manufacturers
Multi-talented people, fountain designers from the 16th to the late 18th century typically functioned as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one person. Leonardo da Vinci as a creative intellect, inventor and scientific virtuoso exemplified this Renaissance artist. With his tremendous curiosity regarding the forces of nature, he explored the characteristics and movement of water and also methodically recorded his observations in his now recognized notebooks. Early Italian water feature builders transformed private villa settings into amazing water showcases full with emblematic meaning and natural beauty by coupling creativity with hydraulic and gardening talent. The humanist Pirro Ligorio brought the vision behind the splendors in Tivoli and was distinguished for his skill in archeology, architecture and garden concepts. Masterminding the excellent water marbles, water features and water jokes for the numerous properties in the vicinity of Florence, some other fountain designers were well versed in humanistic themes and classical technical texts.