Garden Fountain Builders Through History
Garden Fountain Builders Through History Often working as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one, from the 16th to the late 18th century, fountain designers were multi-talented people, Exemplifying the Renaissance skilled artist as a creative genius, Leonardo da Vinci performed as an inventor and scientific specialist. He methodically annotated his examinations in his now much celebrated notebooks about his studies into the forces of nature and the qualities and mobility of water. Remodeling private villa configurations into imaginative water exhibits full of symbolic interpretation and natural wonder, early Italian fountain designers paired imagination with hydraulic and gardening expertise. The humanist Pirro Ligorio, renowned for his virtuosity in archeology, architecture and garden design, provided the vision behind the splendors in Tivoli.
Masterminding the phenomenal water marbles, water features and water pranks for the various properties near Florence, other water fountain builders were well versed in humanist themes as well as time-honored scientific texts.
The Genesis Of Fountains
The Genesis Of Fountains 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 central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. Inhabitants 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 linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water.
Roman fountains usually depicted images of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise. To show his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. 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 provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. The introduction of unique water effects and the recycling of water were 2 things made possible by swapping gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational gatherings.
Keeping Your Water Wall Fountain Clean
Keeping Your Water Wall Fountain Clean
Appropriate care and regular cleaning are important to the longevity of water fountains. A typical problem with fountains is that they tend to accumulate dirt and debris, so it is essential that you keep it free from this. Additionally, anywhere light from the sun combines with still water, algae can appear. To avoid this, there are some simple ingredients that can be mixed into the water, such as vinegar, sea salt, or hydrogen peroxide. There are those who prefer to use bleach, but that is dangerous to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided. Every 3-4 months, garden fountains should undergo a decent cleaning. To start with you must remove the water. When you have done this, wash inside the water reservoir with a mild detergent. Feel free to use a toothbrush if necessary for any stubborn crevasses. Be sure to completely rinse the inside of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
It is highly recommended taking the pump apart to better clean the inside and eliminate any plankton or calcium. Letting it soak in vinegar for several hours first will make it alot easier to clean. 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 daily and add water if you see that the level is depleted. Allowing the water to go below the pump’s intake level, can cause serious damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!
The Beginnings of Modern Wall Fountains
The Beginnings of Modern Wall Fountains The translation of hundreds of ancient Greek documents into Latin was commissioned by the scholarly Pope Nicholas V who led the Church in Rome from 1397 till 1455. He undertook the beautification of Rome to turn it into the worthy capital of the Christian world. At the bidding of the Pope, the Aqua Vergine, a damaged aqueduct which had carried clean drinking water into Rome from eight miles away, was renovated starting in 1453.
The ancient Roman custom of building an imposing commemorative fountain at the location where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was resurrected by Nicholas V. At the behest of the Pope, architect Leon Battista Alberti began the construction of a wall fountain in the spot where we now find the Trevi Fountain. The water which eventually provided the Trevi Fountain as well as the famed baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona came from the modified aqueduct which he had renovated.