Bernini's Early Masterpieces
Bernini's Early Masterpieces One can find Bernini's very first masterpiece, the Barcaccia water fountain, at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, you will see Roman locals and vacation goers filling this area to revel in chit chatter and being among other people. One of the city’s most fashionable gathering places are the streets surrounding Bernini's fountain, which would certainly have brought a smile to the great Bernini. In about 1630, the great master built the first fountain of his career at the behest of Pope Ubano VIII. A massive ship slowly sinking into the Mediterranean is the fountain's central theme. Period reports dating back to the 16th century indicate that the fountain was constructed as a monument to those who lost their lives in the great flooding of the Tevere. Absenting himself from Italy only once in his life for a lengthy period of time, in 1665 Bernini traveled to France.Anglo Saxon Gardens During the Norman Conquest
Anglo Saxon Gardens During the Norman Conquest
The arrival of the Normans in the 2nd half of the eleventh century irreparably improved The Anglo-Saxon lifestyle. The Normans were better than the Anglo-Saxons at architecture and horticulture when they came into power. But home life, household architecture, and decoration were out of the question until the Normans taken over the entire population. Most often constructed upon windy summits, castles were straightforward constructs that allowed their occupants to spend time and space to offensive and defensive schemes, while monasteries were rambling stone buildings frequently added in only the most fecund, broad valleys. The sterile fortresses did not provide for the quiet avocation of farming. Berkeley Castle is probably the most complete model in existence at present of the early Anglo-Norman form of architecture. The keep is thought to date from the time of William the Conqueror. A significant terrace serves as a deterrent to invaders who would attempt to mine the walls of the building. A scenic bowling green, covered in grass and enclosed by battlements cut out of an ancient yew hedge, makes one of the terraces.
Caring For Outdoor Garden Fountains
Caring For Outdoor Garden Fountains Setting up an outdoor wall fountain demands that you bear in mind the dimensions of the space where you are going to put it. It is essential that the wall where you are going to place it is strong enough to support its load. Therefore for smaller areas or walls, a light fountain is going to be more appropriate. An electric socket close to the fountain is required to power the fountain. There are many different styles of fountains, each with their own set of simple, step-by-step instructions. Generally, when you purchase an outdoor wall fountain, it will come in an easy-to-use kit that will include all the needed information to install it correctly. The kit will contain a submersible pump, the hoses and basin (or reservoir).
The basin can usually be hidden away among your garden plants if it is not too big. Since outdoor wall fountains need little maintenance, the only thing left to do is clean it consistently.
Change the water regularly so it is always clean. It is important to quickly clear away debris such as leaves, twigs or other dreck. Extremely cold temperatures can damage your outdoor wall fountain so be sure to protect it during the winter months. Your pump may break when exposed to freezing water during the wintertime, so it is best to bring it indoors to avoid any damage. The bottom line is that if you properly maintain and look after for your outdoor fountain, it will bring you joy for years to come.
Contemporary Garden Decor: Fountains and their Beginnings
Contemporary Garden Decor: Fountains and their Beginnings 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 a noteworthy effect. Pure practicality was the original purpose of fountains. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the area. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. To depict the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages added fountains to their designs. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to extol their positions by including decorative 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 decorative. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for community spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational events.