The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains
The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains The incredible construction of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to complement your home.
From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. Residents of urban areas, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains needed to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains operated using the force of gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a supply of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the artist. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were intended to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
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. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to enable 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 compliment entertainment and recreational gatherings.
The Godfather Of Roman Fountains
The Godfather Of Roman Fountains In Rome’s city center, there are many easily recognized water fountains. One of the most distinguished sculptors and artists of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini planned, conceived and constructed nearly all of them. His skills as a fountain designer and also as a city designer, are observable all through the streets of Rome. A famous Florentine sculptor, Bernini's father mentored his young son, and they ultimately went to Rome to totally exhibit their art, chiefly in the form of community water features and water features. An exemplary employee, Bernin earned encouragement and the the backing of popes and well known painters. He was initially celebrated for his sculpture. An expert in classic Greek engineering, he utilized this knowledge as a base and melded it seamlessly with Roman marble, most famously in the Vatican. Though many artists had an influence on his work, Michelangelo had the most profound effect.Keep Your Wall Water Fountain Tidy
Keep Your Wall Water Fountain Tidy
Every 3-4 months, garden fountains should undergo a good cleaning. The initial step is to empty out all of the water. When you have done this, scrub inside the water reservoir with a mild detergent. If there is delicate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Any soap residue that remains on your fountain can harm it, so be sure it is all rinsed off.
Make sure you get rid of any calcium or plankton by taking the pump apart and scrubbing the inside thoroughly. You might want to let it soak in vinegar for a few hours to make it easier to wash. Mineral or rain water, versus tap water, is ideal in order to avoid any build-up of chemicals inside the pump.
Lastly, make sure your fountain is always full by checking on it every day - this will keep it in tip-top shape. Low water levels can damage the pump - and you do not want that!
The Early Culture: Garden Fountains
The Early Culture: Garden Fountains Fountains and Water and the Minoan Civilization These were applied to provide towns and cities with water as well as to minimize flooding and remove waste. The majority were prepared from terracotta or even stone. There were terracotta pipelines, both circular and rectangle-shaped as well as canals made from the same elements. These consisted of cone-like and U-shaped terracotta conduits which were distinctive to the Minoans.