The Father Of Roman Fountain Design
The Father Of Roman Fountain Design There are countless renowned water fountains in Rome’s city center. One of the most distinguished sculptors and artists of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini fashioned, conceived and built almost all of them.
Traces of his life's efforts are apparent all through the avenues of Rome because, in addition to his capabilities as a fountain creator, he was also a city builder. Ultimately travelling to Rome to totally reveal their art, chiefly in the shape of community water fountains, Bernini’s father, a famed Florentine sculptor, guided his young son. An exceptional workman, Bernin earned praise and the patronage of popes and important painters. At the start he was celebrated for his sculptural abilities. Most famously in the Vatican, he made use of a base of experience in classic Greek architecture and melded it effortlessly with Roman marble. Although many artists had an impact on his work, Michelangelo had the most profound effect.
The Genesis Of Fountains
The Genesis Of Fountains A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to supply drinking water, as well as for decorative purposes.The primary purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to supply potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains functioned using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Bronze or stone masks of animals and heroes were commonly seen on Roman fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise.
King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his superiority over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains built to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for fresh, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Decorating city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.