The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains

The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. Residents of cities, townships and small towns used them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains had to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin 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 provided clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains usually depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. To mark the entrance of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the construction of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts entered the city of Rome
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 permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
These days, fountains decorate public spaces and are used to honor individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Outdoor Fountains
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Outdoor Fountains In Rome’s city center, there are countless easily recognized fountains. One of the most distinguished sculptors and artists of the 17th century, nearly all of them were designed, conceptualized and constructed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Also a city builder, he had abilities as a water feature developer, and records of his life's work are obvious throughout the roads of Rome. Eventually transferring to Rome to fully express their art, chiefly in the form of public water fountains, Bernini’s father, a famed Florentine sculptor, mentored his young son. The juvenile Bernini was an great employee and received encouragement and backing of significant painters as well as popes. At the start he was celebrated for his sculptural skills.
Anglo-Saxon Landscapes at the Time of the Norman Conquest

Your Patio: A Great Place for a Fountain
Your Patio: A Great Place for a Fountain
Putting in a wall water feature is your best solution for a little backyard because a spouting or cascading fountain takes up too much space. You can choose to put in a stand-alone fountain with a flat back and an attached basin propped against a fence or wall in your backyard, or a wall-mounted type which is self-contained and suspended from a wall. Adding a fountain to an existing wall requires that you add a fountain mask as well as a basin at the bottom to collect the water. Since the plumbing and masonry work is extensive to complete this type of job, you should hire a professional to do it rather than try to do it alone.