Bernini’s Early Italian Fountains
Bernini’s Early Italian Fountains One can find Bernini's very first masterpiece, the Barcaccia water fountain, at the foot of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, this area is flooded with Roman locals and travelers alike who enjoy debate and each other's company. Bernini would without a doubt have been happy to know that people still flock to what has become one the city's trendiest areas, that around his amazing water fountain. The master's very first fountain of his career was built at around 1630 at the request of Pope Urbano VIII. The fountain’s central theme is based on a massive boat slowly sinking into the Mediterranean. According to 16th century reports, a great flood of the Tevere covered the entire area in water, an event which was memorialized by the eye-catching fountain. In 1665 Bernini journeyed to France, in what was to be his sole extended absence from Italy.The Minoan Culture: Fountains

Modern Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Beginnings
Modern Garden Decoration: Large Outdoor Water 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 an extraordinary effect.Originally, fountains only served a functional purpose. Residents of cities, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains had to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. 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 the power of gravity. Artists thought of fountains as amazing additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to provide clean water and honor the designer responsible for creating it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times utilized by Romans to decorate their fountains. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exercise his power over nature. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Urban fountains made at the end of the 19th century served only as decorative and celebratory adornments since indoor plumbing provided the necessary drinking water. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern fountains are used to embellish public spaces, honor individuals or events, and enrich recreational and entertainment events.
Caring For Outdoor Fountains
Caring For Outdoor Fountains Setting up an outdoor wall fountain demands that you bear in mind the dimensions of the space where you are going to place it. In order to hold up its total weight, a solid wall is necessary. Therefore for smaller areas or walls, a lightweight feature is going to be more suitable. An electric socket near the fountain is required to power the fountain. Since there are many types of outdoor wall fountains, installation methods vary, but the majority include user-friendly instructions.Everything you will need to correctly install your outdoor wall fountain is typically provided in easy-to-use kits. The kit will include a submersible pump, the hoses and basin (or reservoir). Depending on its size, the basin can normally be hidden quite easily amongst the plants. Other than the regular cleaning, little maintenance is required once your outdoor wall fountain is installed.
Change the water frequently so it is always clean. Debris such as twigs, leaves or dirt should be cleaned up quickly. In addition, your outdoor wall fountain should not be subjected to freezing winter weather conditions. If kept outdoors, your pump could break as a result of freezing water, so bring it inside during the winter. The bottom line is that if you properly maintain and look after for your outdoor fountain, it will bring you joy for many years.