Gian Bernini's Fountains
Gian Bernini's Fountains There are numerous celebrated fountains in Rome’s city center. One of the best ever sculptors and artists of the 17th century, almost all of them were designed, conceived and constructed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. He was also a city designer, in addition to his skills as a water fountain developer, and remnants of his life's work are evident throughout the streets of Rome.
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Begin?
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Begin? The incredible architecture of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to enhance your home.The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs nearby. Up to the late 19th 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 downwards or shoot high into the air. Artists thought of fountains as amazing additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and celebrate the designer responsible for building it. Roman fountains often depicted images of animals or heroes made of bronze 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 demonstrate his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Indoor plumbing became the key source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational gatherings.