A Chronicle of Outdoor Fountains
A Chronicle of Outdoor Fountains The translation of hundreds of classic Greek texts into Latin was commissioned by the scholarly Pope Nicholas V who led the Church in Rome from 1397 until 1455. It was important for him to embellish the city of Rome to make it worthy of being known as the capital of the Christian world. In 1453 the Pope instigated the rebuilding of the Aqua Vergine, an historic Roman aqueduct which had carried fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away. Building a mostra, a grandiose commemorative fountain built by ancient Romans to memorialize the arrival point of an aqueduct, was a custom revived by Nicholas V. At the behest of the Pope, architect Leon Battista Alberti began the construction of a wall fountain in the place where we now find the Trevi Fountain. The water which eventually furnished the Trevi Fountain as well as the renown baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona flowed from the modified aqueduct which he had renovated.Keeping Your Garden Fountain Clean
Keeping Your Garden Fountain Clean Adequate care and regular maintenance are important to the longevity of water fountains. It is essential to clean it out and remove any debris or foreign elements that might have gotten into or onto it.
Another factor is that water that is subjected to sunlight is prone to growing algae. To stay clear of this, take vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or sea salt and add right into the water. There are those who choose to use bleach, but that is hazardous to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided. No more than three-four months should go by without an extensive cleaning of a fountain. The initial step is to empty out all the water. When it is empty, wash inside the reservoir with a gentle cleanser. Feel free to use a toothbrush if necessary for any stubborn crevasses. Do not leave any soap deposit inside or on the fountain.
Make sure you get rid of any calcium or plankton by taking the pump apart and cleaning the inside thoroughly. Soaking it in vinegar for a while will make it easier to scrub. Mineral or rain water, versus tap water, is ideal in order to avoid any build-up of chemicals inside the pump.
Finally, be sure to have a quick look at your fountain every day and add water if you notice that the level is too low. Low water levels can damage the pump - and you do not want that!
Ancient Fountain Designers
Ancient Fountain Designers Often serving as architects, sculptors, designers, engineers and discerning scholars, all in one, fountain designers were multi-talented people from the 16th to the late 18th century. Leonardo da Vinci as a creative master, inventor and scientific virtuoso exemplified this Renaissance artist. He systematically recorded his observations in his now celebrated notebooks about his investigations into the forces of nature and the qualities and mobility of water. Combining imagination with hydraulic and horticultural talent, early Italian fountain creators changed private villa settings into innovative water exhibits loaded of emblematic implications and natural charm.
Known for his virtuosity in archeology, design and garden design, Pirro Ligorio, the humanist, delivered the vision behind the wonders in Tivoli. Other water feature developers, masterminding the fantastic water marbles, water features and water jokes for the various properties near Florence, were well-versed in humanist topics and time-honored scientific readings.