Modern Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Roots
Modern Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Roots The dramatic or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to delivering drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property. Pure functionality was the original role of fountains. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Used until the 19th 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 gravity. Designers thought of fountains as wonderful additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to provide clean water and honor the artist responsible for building it. Bronze or stone masks of wildlife and heroes were commonly seen on Roman fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. To demonstrate his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains made to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Since indoor plumbing became the norm 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 allowed fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational events.
The Hellenic Republic: Architectural Statues
The Hellenic Republic: Architectural Statues Even though most sculptors were paid by the temples to decorate the sophisticated columns and archways with renderings of the gods, as the period came to a close, it became more prevalent for sculptors to depict average people as well because plenty of Greeks had started to think of their religion as superstitious rather than sacred. Portraiture, which would be accepted by the Romans upon their annexation of Greek society became customary as well, and wealthy family members would sometimes commission a portrait of their forebears to be situated in enormous familial tombs. A point of aesthetic progression, the use of sculpture and alternate art forms morphed through the Greek Classical period, so it is inaccurate to say that the arts provided only one function.
Greek sculpture was actually a modern part of antiquity, whether the cause was religious fervor or aesthetic satisfaction, and its modern excellence may be what endears it to us today.