Rome, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, And Water Features
Rome, Gian Lorenzo Bernini, And Water Features
In Rome’s city center, there are many famous public fountains. Nearly all of them were planned, designed and built by one of the greatest sculptors and designers of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Marks of his life's work are evident throughout the streets of Rome simply because, in addition to his skills as a water feature builder, he was also 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 employee, the young Bernini earned praise and the backing of various popes and important artists. At first he was recognized for his sculpting skills. Working gracefully with Roman marble, he used a base of expertise in the classic Greek architecture, most obviously in the Vatican. Though he was influenced by many, Michelangelo had the most profound effect on him, both personally and professionally.
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From?
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From? 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 complete your home.Originally, fountains only served a functional purpose. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs in the area. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity.
Acting as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. Bronze or stone masks of animals and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create mini depictions of the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were meant to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to extol their positions by adding decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational activities.
The Water Features
The Water Features Villages and communities depended on working water fountains to channel water for cooking, washing, and cleaning from nearby sources like ponds, streams, or springs. In the days before electric power, the spray of fountains was driven by gravity only, commonly using an aqueduct or water source located far away in the nearby mountains. The beauty and wonder of fountains make them appropriate for traditional monuments. If you saw the 1st fountains, you wouldn't identify them as fountains.
Simple stone basins sculpted from local stone were the original fountains, used for spiritual functions and drinking water. The original stone basins are suspected to be from around 2000 BC. The spray of water emerging from small spouts was pushed by gravity, the sole power source designers had in those days. Positioned near aqueducts or creeks, the practical public water fountains furnished the local populace with fresh drinking water. The people of Rome began building decorative fountains in 6 B.C., most of which were metallic or stone masks of wildlife and mythological representations. The extraordinary aqueducts of Rome delivered water to the incredible public fountains, many of which you can go see today.