The Water Fountains
The Water Fountains The water from springs and other sources was initially provided to the inhabitants of nearby communities and municipalities via water fountains, whose design was largely practical, not aesthetic. Gravity was the power supply of water fountains up until the conclusion of the nineteenth century, using the forceful power of water traveling downhill from a spring or brook to force the water through valves or other outlets. Fountains throughout history have been developed as monuments, impressing hometown citizens and visitors alike. The common fountains of modern times bear little similarity to the first water fountains. A stone basin, crafted from rock, was the first fountain, utilized for holding water for drinking and ceremonial purposes. The original stone basins are believed to be from about 2000 BC. The spraying of water appearing from small jets was pushed by gravity, the lone power source designers had in those days. The location of the fountains was determined by the water source, which is why you’ll commonly find them along reservoirs, waterways, or streams. Fountains with flowery decoration started to appear in Rome in about 6 BC, normally gods and animals, made with natural stone or bronze.
Water for the community fountains of Rome was delivered to the city via a complicated system of water aqueducts.
The Source of Today's Outdoor Fountains
The Source of Today's Outdoor Fountains Hundreds of classic Greek texts were translated into Latin under the auspices of the scholarly Pope Nicholas V, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455.
In order to make Rome worthy of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope decided to enhance the beauty of the city. In 1453 the Pope instigated the rebuilding of the Aqua Vergine, an ancient Roman aqueduct which had carried fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away. The ancient Roman custom of marking the entry point of an aqueduct with an imposing celebratory fountain, also known as a mostra, was restored by Nicholas V. The architect Leon Battista Alberti was directed by the Pope to put up a wall fountain where we now see the Trevi Fountain. Modifications and extensions, included in the restored aqueduct, eventually supplied the Trevi Fountain and the well-known baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona with the necessary water supply.
Pick from Countless Exterior Wall Fountain Styles
Pick from Countless Exterior Wall Fountain Styles
You can design a place to unwind as well as add a touch of style to your porch or yard with a wall fountain since they are great adornments to fit into small area. When considering the many types of outdoor wall fountains available including traditional, antique, modern, or Asian, you are certain to find one most suitable to your design ideas. While there are innumerable prefabricated ones on the market, you may need a custom-built fountain if none of these are pleasing to you. Depending on your wishes, you can pick from mounted or freestanding types. Mounted wall fountains are little and self-contained variations which can be displayed on a wall. Wall fountains made of resin ( similar to stone) or fiberglass are normally lightweight so they can be easily hung. In large stand-alone fountains, otherwise known as wall fountains, the basin is located on the ground with the flat side positioned against a wall. Water features such as these are usually manufactured of cast stone and have no weight limitations.
It is a good idea to incorporate a customized fountain into a new or existing wall, something often suggested by landscape professionals. The basin and all the required plumbing are best installed by a qualified mason. A fountain mask or a spout also needs to be integrated into the wall. The cohesive look provided by customized wall fountains make them appear to be part of the landscape instead of an afterthought.
Gian Bernini's Outdoor Fountains
Gian Bernini's Outdoor Fountains There are numerous celebrated water fountains in Rome’s city center. One of the greatest sculptors and artists of the 17th century, virtually all of them were planned, conceptualized and constructed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. He was also a urban designer, in addition to his expertise as a fountain engineer, and remnants of his life's work are noticeable throughout the streets of Rome. Bernini's father, a recognized Florentine sculptor, mentored his young son, and they eventually relocated in Rome, to fully exhibit their art in the form of community water features and water features. An exceptional employee, Bernin received compliments and the the backing of popes and well known painters. His sculpture was originally his claim to glory. An expert in ancient Greek engineering, he utilized this knowledge as a base and melded it seamlessly with Roman marble, most remarkably in the Vatican. Though many artists had an influence on his work, Michelangelo had the most profound effect.The Origins Of Wall Fountains
The Origins Of Wall 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 drinkable water, as well as for decorative purposes.From the onset, outdoor fountains were simply meant to serve as functional elements.
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. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from the power of gravity. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to decorate their fountains. To illustrate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages introduced fountains to their designs. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were intended to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains made to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
The end of the nineteenth century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. The introduction of special water effects and the recycling of water were two things made possible by swapping gravity with mechanical pumps.
Decorating city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the purposes of modern-day fountains.