The Source of Today's Outdoor Garden Fountains
The Source of Today's Outdoor Garden Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a well educated man, governed the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of old classic Greek texts into Latin. He undertook the beautification of Rome to turn it into the model seat of the Christian world. Beginning in 1453, the ruined ancient Roman aqueduct known as the Aqua Vergine which had brought clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away, underwent restoration at the behest of the Pope. 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 previously occupied by a wall fountain commissioned by the Pope and constructed by the architect Leon Battista Alberti. The water which eventually provided the Trevi Fountain as well as the renown baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona came from the modified aqueduct which he had renovated.The Earliest Water Features
The Earliest Water Features
Water fountains were at first practical in function, used to deliver water from rivers or creeks to cities and hamlets, supplying the inhabitants with fresh water to drink, bathe, and cook with. In the days before electrical power, the spray of fountains was driven by gravity exclusively, usually using an aqueduct or water source located far away in the surrounding mountains. The appeal and spectacle of fountains make them appropriate for historic monuments. The contemporary fountains of modern times bear little similarity to the very first water fountains. Basic stone basins crafted from local material were the first fountains, used for religious purposes and drinking water. Natural stone basins as fountains have been recovered from 2000 B.C.. Gravity was the power source that operated the oldest water fountains. The placement of the fountains was determined by the water source, which is why you’ll usually find them along reservoirs, waterways, or streams. Fountains with flowery decoration began to appear in Rome in approximately 6 B.C., usually gods and wildlife, made with stone or bronze. A well-engineered collection of reservoirs and aqueducts kept Rome's public fountains supplied with fresh water.
The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains
The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains A fountain, an incredible piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for a noteworthy effect.The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional.
Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to supply potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Up to the late 19th century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and more elevated than the fountain so that gravity could make the water move down or jet high into the air. Designers thought of fountains as wonderful additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and celebrate the artist responsible for building it. The main materials used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. To depict the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages introduced fountains to their designs. To show his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to laud their positions by including beautiful baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
The end of the 19th century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the force of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for open spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational activities.