Contemporary Garden Decor: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Roots
Contemporary Garden Decor: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Roots A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to supply drinkable water, as well as for decorative purposes.The primary 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 needed to be connected 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.
Designers thought of fountains as wonderful additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and honor the designer responsible for building it. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create smaller variations of the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were meant to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to laud their positions by including decorative 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 supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. 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 open spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational activities.
Contemporary Statuary in Early Greece
Contemporary Statuary in Early Greece Most sculptors were paid by the temples to accentuate the intricate pillars and archways with renderings of the gods until the stage came to a close and countless Greeks began to think of their religion as superstitious rather than sacred, when it became more common for sculptors to portray ordinary men and women as well. Portraiture, which would be recognized by the Romans upon their annexation of Greek society became customary as well, and wealthy family members would at times commission a portrait of their forebears to be situated in immense familial tombs.
A time of artistic progression, the use of sculpture and other art forms transformed during the Greek Classical period, so it is inexact to suggest that the arts served only one function. It could be the advanced quality of Greek sculpture that captivates our attention today; it was on a leading-edge practice of the ancient world regardless of whether it was created for religious purposes or aesthetic pleasure.