The Original Water Fountain Designers
The Original Water Fountain Designers Multi-talented individuals, fountain designers from the 16th to the late 18th century typically functioned as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one. During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci exemplified the artist as an creative intellect, creator and scientific specialist. He carefully reported his examinations in his now much celebrated notebooks about his investigations into the forces of nature and the attributes and movement of water. Brilliant water exhibits full with symbolic meaning and all-natural charm transformed private villa settings when early Italian fountain creators paired resourcefulness with hydraulic and landscaping skill. Known for his virtuosity in archeology, architecture and garden creations, Pirro Ligorio, the humanist, provided the vision behind the splendors in Tivoli. Masterminding the extraordinary water marbles, water features and water antics for the numerous mansions in the vicinity of Florence, other fountain creators were well versed in humanist themes as well as ancient technical texts.Statues As a Staple of Classic Art in Archaic Greece
Statues As a Staple of Classic Art in Archaic Greece Archaic Greeks were known for creating the first freestanding statuary; up till then, most carvings were made out of walls and pillars as reliefs. Kouros figures, sculptures of young, attractive male or female (kore) Greeks, made up the greater part of the sculptures. The kouroi, viewed as by the Greeks to represent beauty, had one foot stretched out of a fixed forward-facing posture and the male figurines were always undressed, with a compelling, powerful shape. Life-sized versions of the kouroi appeared beginning in 650 BC. The Archaic period was tumultuous for the Greeks as they progressed into more sophisticated forms of federal government and art, and gained more information about the peoples and cultures outside of Greece.
Where did Landscape Fountains Come From?

Pure practicality was the original role of fountains. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains operated using the force of 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 an optimal source of water, and also served to decorate living areas and memorialize the designer. The main materials used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. To illustrate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages introduced fountains to their designs. Fountains played a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exercise his power over nature. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to laud their positions by adding beautiful baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
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. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational gatherings.
Water Features Recorded by History

Contemporary Statuary in Early Greece
