Where did Large Garden Fountains Come From?

From the onset, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. Inhabitants of cities, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash up, which meant that fountains had to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up to the late nineteenth century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and more elevated than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow down or jet high into the air. Acting as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. The main materials used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. To replicate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages introduced fountains to their designs. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were intended to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered 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 purely decorative elements. Amazing water effects and recycled water were made possible by replacing the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Embellishing city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the uses of modern-day fountains.
Bernini’s First Italian Fountains
Bernini’s First Italian Fountains The Barcaccia, a beautiful fountain built at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna, was Bernini's earliest fountain. Roman locals and site seers who enjoy conversation as well as being the company of others still go to this spot. Today, the city streets surrounding Bernini's fountain are a trendy area where people go to meet, something which the artist would have been pleased to learn. In about 1630, the great master built the very first fountain of his career at the behest of Pope Ubano VIII. An enormous vessel slowly sinking into the Mediterranean is the fountain's main theme. The great flooding of the Tevere that covered the whole region with water in the 16th was memorialized by this momentous fountain as recorded by reports dating back to this period. Absenting himself from Italy only once in his life for a lengthy period of time, in 1665 Bernini traveled to France.The Various Construction Materials of Outdoor Garden Fountains
The Various Construction Materials of Outdoor Garden Fountains Although they come in different materials, today’s garden fountains tend to be made of metal.
One of the most popular metals for sculptural garden fountains these days is copper. Copper is used in cascade and tabletop water fountains as well as various other styles, making it perfect for inside and outside fountains. Another benefit of copper fountains is they are versatile and come in a wide range of styles.
Also popular, brass fountains often have a more old-fashioned look to them versus their copper counterpart. Though not the most modern, the creatures and sculptural features you find on fountains are commonly made of brass, thus making them very popular.
Perhaps the most contemporary of all metals is stainless steel. A cutting-edge steel design will quickly boost the value of your garden as well as the feeling of peacefulness. As with all fountains, you can find any size you choose.
Because it is both lighter and more affordable than metal but has a comparable look, fiberglass is quite common for fountains. Caring for a fiberglass water fountain is fairly easy, another benefit that consumers love.
Historic Crete & The Minoans: Outdoor Fountains
Historic Crete & The Minoans: Outdoor Fountains During archaeological excavations on the island of Crete, various types of conduits have been identified. These were made use of to provide towns and cities with water as well as to alleviate flooding and remove waste material. The principle ingredients utilized were stone or terracotta. There were clay pipelines, both circular and rectangle-shaped as well as pathways made from the same material. Amidst these were terracotta piping which were U shaped or a shorter, cone-like shape which have only showed up in Minoan civilization. The water supply at Knossos Palace was handled with a system of terracotta piping that was located underneath the floor, at depths ranging from a few centimeters to several meters. Along with disbursing water, the clay conduits of the Minoans were also used to collect water and store it.