The Beginnings of Contemporary Outdoor Wall Fountains

The Beginnings of Contemporary Outdoor Wall Fountains Himself a highly educated man, Pope Nicholas V headed the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 till 1455 and was responsible for the translation of scores of age-old texts from their original Greek into Latin. In order to make Rome worthy of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope resolved to enhance the beauty of the city. Restoration of the Acqua Vergine, a ruined Roman aqueduct which had transported clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away, began in 1453 at the behest of the Pope. The historical Roman custom of marking the arrival point of an aqueduct with an magnificent celebratory fountain, also known as a mostra, was restored by Nicholas V. The Trevi Fountain now occupies the space previously filled with a wall fountain built by Leon Battista Albert, an architect employed by the Pope. Changes and extensions, included in the restored aqueduct, eventually provided the Trevi Fountain and the well-known baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona with the necessary water supply.

Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots

Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots A fountain, an incredible piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also propel water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.

Pure functionality was the original role of fountains. Inhabitants 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. Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains Roots 13273827781577165795.jpg Up to the late 19th century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and higher than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow downwards or shoot high into the air. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Bronze or stone masks of animals and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains made to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.

The end of the 19th century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.

Nowadays, fountains decorate public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.

Choose from Many Exterior Wall Fountain Designs

Choose from Many Exterior Wall Fountain Designs Small patios or courtyards are an ideal place to set up wall fountains since they add style to an area with little space. Conventional, antique, contemporary, or Asian are just a few of the styles you can choose from when looking for an outdoor wall fountain to your liking. While there are innumerable prefabricated ones on the market, you may need a customized fountain if none of these are appealing to you.

Mounted and free-standing fountains are readily available on the market. Mounted wall fountains are little and self-contained versions which can be hung on a wall. Fountains of this kind need to be light, therefore, they are usually made of resin (resembling stone) or fiberglass. Large-sized free-standing wall fountains, often referred to as floor fountains, have their basins located on the floor and a smooth side leaning on a wall. Water features such as these are typically manufactured of cast stone and have no weight limitations.

Landscape professionals often propose a custom-built fountain for a brand new or existing wall. A skilled mason is required to place the water basin against the wall and correctly install all the plumbing inside or behind the wall. You will need to incorporate a spout or fountain mask into the wall. Choose Many Exterior Wall Fountain Designs 488428082117704.jpg A custom-made wall fountain blends into the landscape instead of standing out because it was a later addition, which contributes to a unified look.

"Primitive" Greek Art: Large Statuary

"Primitive" Greek Art: Large Statuary Up right up until the Archaic Greeks provided the 1st freestanding sculpture, a phenomenal triumph, carvings had chiefly been accomplished in walls and pillars as reliefs. Most of these freestanding sculptures were what is known as kouros figures, statues of young, attractive male or female (kore) Greeks. The kouroi were believed by the Greeks to embody beauty and were sculpted with one foot leading and an uncompromising stiffness to their forward-facing poses; the male statues were always strapping, brawny, and unclothed. The kouroi became life-sized beginning in 650 BC. Throughout the Archaic time, a great time of changes, the Greeks were developing new types of government, expressions of art, and a greater awareness of people and cultures outside Greece. Throughout this time and other periods of historic tumultuousness, clashes often occurred, including battles fought amongst city-states such as the Arcadian wars and the Spartan infiltration of Samos.