Ancient Water Fountain Designers

Often serving as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one, from the 16th to the later part of the 18th century, fountain designers were multi-talented individuals, Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance artist, was celebrated as an ingenious intellect, inventor and scientific master. With his tremendous curiosity regarding the forces of nature, he investigated the qualities and mobility of water and methodically annotated his observations in his now much celebrated notebooks. Remodeling private villa settings into imaginative water showcases full of symbolic significance and natural beauty, early Italian water fountain creators paired curiosity with hydraulic and horticultural abilities. Known for his incredible skill in archeology, architecture and garden creations, Pirro Ligorio, the humanist, provided the vision behind the wonders in Tivoli. Masterminding the phenomenal water marbles, water attributes and water jokes for the various estates in the vicinity of Florence, other water fountain builders were well versed in humanist topics and classical scientific texts.

Did You Know How Mechanical Concepts of Fountains Became Known?

Know Mechanical Concepts Fountains Became Known? 7885254885778.jpg

Did You Know How Mechanical Concepts of Fountains Became Known? The circulated papers and illustrated pamphlets of the time contributed to the evolution of scientific innovation, and were the chief means of spreading practical hydraulic facts and water feature ideas throughout Europe. An internationally renowned innovator in hydraulics in the later part of the 1500's was a French fountain designer, whose name has been lost to history. By creating gardens and grottoes with integrated and amazing water attributes, he started off his profession in Italy by earning imperial mandates in Brussels, London and Germany. “The Principles of Moving Forces”, a book that became the essential book on hydraulic technology and engineering, was written by him towards the end of his life in France. Modernizing vital hydraulic advancements of classical antiquity, the book also explains contemporary hydraulic technologies. Prominent among these works were those of Archimedes, the developer of the water screw, a mechanized means of transferring water. Sunlight warmed the liquid in two hidden vessels adjacent to the beautiful fountain were shown in an illustration. The end result: the water fountain is activated by the heated water expanding and ascending up the pipes. Pumps, water wheels, water attributes and garden pond designs are included in the publication.

Archaic Greek Artwork: Large Statuary

Archaic Greek Artwork: Large Statuary The initial freestanding statuary was designed by the Archaic Greeks, a recognized achievement since until then the only carvings in existence were reliefs cut into walls and columns. Younger, appealing male or female (kore) Greeks were the subject matter of most of the statues, or kouros figures. Considered by Greeks to embody splendour, the kouroi were shaped into stiff, forward facing positions with one foot outstretched, and the male statues were usually nude, well-built, and athletic. The kouroi started to be life-sized starting in 650 BC. Archaic Greek Artwork: Large Statuary 1329097770567190.jpg

The Archaic period was an amazing point of transformation for the Greeks as they expanded into new modes of government, produced novel expressions of art, and achieved knowledge of the people and cultures outside of Greece. But in spite of the conflicts, the Greek civilization went on to progress, unabated.

Water Transport Strategies in Ancient Rome

Water Transport Strategies in Ancient Rome Aqua Anio Vetus, the first raised aqueduct founded in Rome, started off supplying the people living in the hills with water in 273 BC, even though they had depended on natural springs up until then. Throughout this period, there were only 2 other techniques capable of offering water to elevated areas, subterranean wells and cisterns, which amassed rainwater. From the early sixteenth century, water was routed to Pincian Hill by way of the underground channel of Acqua Vergine. As originally constructed, the aqueduct was provided along the length of its channel with pozzi (manholes) constructed at regular intervals. Water Transport Strategies Ancient Rome 48502038266462152.jpg

Water Transport Strategies Ancient Rome 48502038266462152.jpg

Whilst these manholes were created to make it simpler and easier to sustain the aqueduct, it was also possible to use buckets to pull water from the channel, which was practiced by Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi from the time he purchased the property in 1543 to his death in 1552. Even though the cardinal also had a cistern to accumulate rainwater, it couldn't supply a sufficient amount of water. That is when he made the decision to create an access point to the aqueduct that ran underneath his property.