Inventors of the First Water Fountains
Inventors of the First Water Fountains Water fountain designers were multi-talented people from the 16th to the later part of the 18th century, often serving as architects, sculptors, artisans, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one person. Exemplifying the Renaissance skilled artist as a creative genius, Leonardo da Vinci toiled as an inventor and scientific expert. The forces of nature guided him to research the qualities and motion of water, and due to his fascination, he carefully documented his experiences in his now renowned notebooks. Coupling imaginativeness with hydraulic and gardening mastery, early Italian fountain engineers changed private villa settings into ingenious water displays complete of emblematic meaning and natural beauty. The humanist Pirro Ligorio provided the vision behind the wonders in Tivoli and was renowned for his abilities in archeology, architecture and garden concepts. Masterminding the phenomenal water marbles, water attributes and water antics for the numerous estates near Florence, some other fountain builders were well versed in humanist issues as well as classical scientific texts.A Brief History of the Early Outdoor Garden Fountains
A Brief History of the Early Outdoor Garden Fountains Water fountains were initially practical in function, used to convey water from canals or creeks to cities and villages, supplying the inhabitants with clean water to drink, wash, and prepare food with. A supply of water higher in elevation than the fountain was needed to pressurize the flow and send water spraying from the fountain's nozzle, a system without equal until the late nineteenth century. Inspirational and impressive, prominent water fountains have been built as monuments in many civilizations.
Modern Garden Decor: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Beginnings
Modern Garden Decor: Large Outdoor Water Fountains and their Beginnings A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for a noteworthy effect.From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to supply potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains operated using the force of gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the designer. Roman fountains often depicted images 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. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to extol their positions by including decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
Since indoor plumbing became the norm of the day for clean, 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.
Nowadays, fountains decorate public spaces and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.