A Chronicle of Wall Fountains
A Chronicle of Wall Fountains Himself a learned man, Pope Nicholas V led the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 till 1455 and was responsible for the translation of hundreds of age-old texts from their original Greek into Latin. Beautifying Rome and making it the worthy capital of the Christian world was at the heart of his objectives. In 1453 the Pope instigated the reconstruction of the Aqua Vergine, an ancient Roman aqueduct which had carried fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away. The ancient Roman tradition of marking the arrival point of an aqueduct with an magnificent celebratory fountain, also known as a mostra, was restored by Nicholas V. The present-day site of the Trevi Fountain was once occupied by a wall fountain commissioned by the Pope and constructed by the architect Leon Battista Alberti. The aqueduct he had reconditioned included modifications and extensions which eventually enabled it to supply water to the Trevi Fountain as well as the renowned baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona.The Circulation of Water Fountain Industrial Knowledge in Europe
The Circulation of Water Fountain Industrial Knowledge in Europe
Contributing to the advancement of scientific technology were the printed letters and illustrated publications of the day. They were also the main method of transmitting useful hydraulic information and water fountain design ideas throughout Europe. An unnamed French water feature designer became an globally renowned hydraulic leader in the late 1500's. By designing gardens and grottoes with built-in and ingenious water attributes, he started off his occupation in Italy by receiving Royal mandates in Brussels, London and Germany. The text, “The Principles of Moving Forces,” authored near the end of his lifetime in France, turned out to be the fundamental writing on hydraulic mechanics and engineering. Updating principal hydraulic findings of classical antiquity, the publication also explains contemporary hydraulic technologies. Notable among these works were those of Archimedes, the inventor of the water screw, a mechanized method of transferring water. A pair of undetectable containers heated by sunlight in an area adjacent to the ornamental fountain were presented in an illustration. The end result: the water fountain is activated by the hot water expanding and ascending up the conduits. Concepts for pumps, water wheels, water attributes and garden ponds are also mentioned in the book.
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Landscape Fountains
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Landscape Fountains
Appropriate care and regular maintenance are important to the longevity of water fountains. Leaves, twigs, and bugs very often find their way into fountains, so it is important to keep yours free from such debris. Another factor is that water that is exposed to sunlight is susceptible to growing algae. Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be dissolved into the water to prevent this problem. Some people opt for putting bleach into the water, but the problem is that it harms wildlife - so it should be avoided. Every three-four months, garden fountains should have a decent cleaning. First you must remove the water. Then use a soft cloth and gentle cleanser to scrub the inside. If there are any little grooves, use a toothbrush to reach every spot. Be sure to carefully rinse the inside of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
Some organisms and calcium deposits may get inside the pump, so it is best to take it apart and clean it completely. You might want to let it soak in vinegar for a few hours to make it quicker to wash. Mineral or rain water, versus tap water, is ideal in order to eliminate any build-up of chemicals inside the pump.
And finally, make sure the water level is always full in order to keep your fountain operating smoothly. Allowing the water to drop below the pump’s intake level, can cause severe damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!