Where did Fountains Come From?
Where did Fountains Come From? The amazing or ornamental effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, as well as delivering drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property. From the beginning, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to provide drinkable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners incorporated fountains to create mini variations of the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to laud their positions by including beautiful baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
The end of the nineteenth century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for community spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational events.
Agrippa's Amazing, but Mostly Forgotten Water-Lifting Device
Agrippa's Amazing, but Mostly Forgotten Water-Lifting Device Regrettably, Agrippa’s excellent plan for lifting water wasn’t referred to a lot after 1588, when Andrea Bacci applauded it widely. It may be that the Acqua Felice, the second of Rome’s early modern aqueducts made the device outdated when it was hooked up to the Villa Medici in 1592.
In truth it was probably merely abandoned when Ferdinando returned to Florence in 1588 following the death of his sibling, Francesco di Medici, leading Ferdinando to give up his cardinalship in order to secure his place as the upcoming Grand Duke of Tuscany. There might have been other impressive water-related works in Renaissance gardens in the later part of the sixteenth century, like water fountains which played tunes, water caprices (or giochi d’acqua) and even scenographic water demonstrations, but nothing were operated by water that defied gravitation.