Where did Fountains Come From?
Where did Fountains Come From? A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to provide drinking water, as well as for decorative purposes.
From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to supply drinkable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains functioned using the force of gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a supply of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Artists thought of fountains as amazing additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and celebrate the artist responsible for creating it. 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 supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to exalt 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 increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
These days, fountains adorn public areas and are used to honor individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Keeping Your Garden Fountain Tidy
Keeping Your Garden Fountain Tidy Water fountains will keep working a very long time with scheduled cleaning and maintenance. It is important to clean it out and take out any debris or foreign elements that might have fallen into or onto it. Additionally, anywhere light from the sun comes in contact with still water, algae can form. Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be blended into the water to prevent this problem. There are those who choose to use bleach, but that is hazardous to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided.A thorough cleaning every 3-4 months is best for garden fountains. First off you must drain the water. Then use a soft rag and gentle cleanser to scrub the inside. If there are any small grooves, work with a toothbrush to get every spot.
Make sure all the soap is totally washed off.
Calcium and fresh water organisms could get inside the pump, so you should disassemble it to get it truly clean. Soaking it in vinegar for a while will make it easier to clean. Neither rain water nor mineral water contain ingredients that will build up inside the pump, so use either over tap water if possible.
Finally, be sure to have a quick look at your fountain every day and add water if you notice that the level is low. Allowing the water to drop below the pump’s intake level, can cause serious damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!
Choose from all Kinds of Outdoor Water Features
Choose from all Kinds of Outdoor Water Features Convert your garden into what you have always wished for – a haven of serenity. You can benefit from a water feature by integrating an outdoor fountain to your garden and creating a place of serenity.Sending a stream of water shooting into the air, spouting fountains leave a striking impression. If your pond is sufficiently large, it can be incorporated without difficulty. Parks and historical mansions often have one these fountains.
Outdoor water features come in varied forms, one of which is a fancy wall fountain.
If you are keen on include a water feature, but are doubtful because you have a small yard, do not hesitate to install one of these. Spouting fountains usually make quite an impact whereas wall features are more of an understated type of water feature. In this straightforward process, water is ejected from a little spout, goes down a wonderfully textured wall, before being recovered at the bottom and returned to the top once again.
Your garden’s style determines whether a themed fountain is suitable for you. If your cottage or garden is styled in a rustic manner, you should consider adding a classic type of statue, such as a seraph holding the spout, to your fountain. On the other hand, a more modern garden can include more of a bold design. Deciding what to do is totally in your hands.
Tiered fountains are charming because the water flows down multiple levels. Water moves down numerous tiers in a cascading fountain.
Due to the fact that outdoor fountains can take up a lot of space, hang a wall fountain or a pondless fountain if the space you have is limited. These types of fountains are suitable for an area with limited space because their reservoirs are buried underground.
If you seek a feeling of serenity and calmness, install a Japanese fountain as these are thought to bring about such sensations. In this type of water feature the water passes through bamboo sticks. Water then flows into a container or a shaped stone, only to repeat the pattern over and over again.
Fountains created from glass are another type available. A more vintage look is provided by trellis-style fountains which showcase shaped metalwork. However, this type of water feature is better suited to gardens with many sharp corners as well as contemporary forms and design. A magnificent effect is created when water runs down the sheets of glass. Colored LED lights are also included in some fountains to illuminate the water as it down down the sheet of glass. A rock waterfall fountain (often made of imitation rock) shows off water softly cascading down its façade.
The feature which differentiates a bubbling rock fountain is a large rock drilled with holes where pipes can be inserted into its center. In this kind of fountain, water is pushed upwards at low pressure to cause it to bubble and gurgle at the top. The water comes back gently trickling down the sides of the rock to get to its starting point. Little gardens are ideal for this sort of fountain. The low pressure used in this sort of fountain prevents water from being spattered about in case of a windy day.
The trend of setting up solar powered fountains is becoming increasingly prevalent. The lack of cables, the decreased difficulty in dealing with them, the lower energy bills, and the benefits to our ecosystem are just some of the reasons for this increased interest. The varied designs in outdoor solar-powered fountains means you will not have to compromise on style.
Bernini: The Master of Italy's Most Impressive Water Fountains
Bernini: The Master of Italy's Most Impressive Water Fountains
Bernini's earliest fountain, named Barcaccia, is a masterful work of art found at the bottom of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, you will see Roman locals and vacation goers filling this spot to revel in chit chatter and being among other people. The streets surrounding his fountain have come to be one of the city’s most stylish gathering places, something which would certainly have pleased Bernini himself. Dating back to around 1630, Pope Urbano VIII mandated what was to be the very first fountain of the artist's career. An enormous vessel slowly sinking into the Mediterranean is the fountain's central theme. According to 16th century reports, a great flood of the Tevere covered the entire area in water, an event which was memorialized by the tremendous fountain. In 1665 Bernini traveled to France, in what was to be his sole extended absence from Italy.