Gian Bernini's Garden Fountains
Gian Bernini's Garden Fountains
There are any number of famous Roman water features in its city center. One of the most distinguished sculptors and designers of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini fashioned, conceptualized and constructed nearly all of them. Marks of his life's efforts are evident throughout the streets of Rome simply because, in addition to his skills as a water feature designer, he was additionally a city builder. Bernini's father, a renowned Florentine sculptor, mentored his young son, and they ultimately moved to Rome, in order to fully express their art, primarily in the form of public water fountains and water features. An excellent worker, the young Bernini received compliments and the backing of many popes and influential artists. His sculpture was originally his claim to fame. Working gracefully with Roman marble, he utilized a base of expertise in the historical Greek architecture, most notably in the Vatican. Though he was influenced by many, Michelangelo had the most profound effect on him, both personally and professionally.
The Positive Benefits of installing a Water Feature in Your Living Area
The Positive Benefits of installing a Water Feature in Your Living Area
A great way to enhance the look of your outdoor living area is to add a wall fountain or an exterior garden fountain to your landscaping or garden design. Contemporary artists and fountain builders alike use historic fountains and water features to shape their creations. As such, integrating one of these to your interior is a superb way to connect it to the past. The water and moisture garden fountains release into the atmosphere draws birds and other creatures, and also balances the ecosystem, all of which add to the benefits of including one of these beautiful water features. Flying, irritating insects, for instance, are frightened off by the birds congregating near the fountain or birdbath. Wall fountains are a good option if your yard is small because they do not require much space in comparison to a spouting or cascading fountain. There are two types of fountains to choose from including the freestanding model with a flat back and an attached basin set up against a fence or a wall in your yard, or the wall-mounted, self-contained variety which is hung directly on a wall. Both a fountain mask located on the existing wall as well as a basin located at the bottom to collect the water are necessary if you wish to include a fountain. It is best not to undertake this job on your own as skilled plumbers and masons are more suitable to do this type of work.
The Source of Today's Outdoor Garden Fountains
The Source of Today's Outdoor Garden Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a learned man, reigned the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of ancient classical Greek texts into Latin. In order to make Rome worthy of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope decided to embellish the beauty of the city. Starting in 1453, the ruined ancient Roman aqueduct known as the Aqua Vergine which had brought fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away, underwent repair at the bidding of the Pope. Building a mostra, an imposing commemorative fountain built by ancient Romans to memorialize the entry point of an aqueduct, was a custom revived by Nicholas V. The Trevi Fountain now occupies the area formerly filled with a wall fountain built by Leon Battista Albert, an architect employed by the Pope.
The aqueduct he had reconditioned included modifications and extensions which eventually enabled it to supply water to the Trevi Fountain as well as the famed baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona.