Bernini: The Master of Italy's Greatest Water Fountains
Bernini: The Master of Italy's Greatest Water Fountains Bernini's earliest water fountain, named Barcaccia, is a masterful work of art seen at the foot of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, you will find Roman locals and vacation goers filling this space to revel in chit chatter and being among other people. One of the city’s most fashionable gathering places are the streets surrounding Bernini's fountain, which would certainly have brought a smile to the great Bernini. The master's very first fountain of his professional life was built at around 1630 at the behest of Pope Urbano VIII. People can now see the fountain as an illustration of a great ship slowly sinking into the Mediterranean. The great 16th century flooding of the Tevere, which left the entire region inundated with water, was memorialized by the fountain according to documents from the time. In 1665, France was graced by Bernini's only lengthy voyage outside of Italy.Modern Garden Decor: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots
Modern Garden Decor: Outdoor Fountains and their Roots A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to provide drinkable water, as well as for decorative purposes.Originally, fountains only served a functional purpose. Residents of cities, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains needed to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up to the late 19th century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and higher than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow down or jet high into the air. Artists thought of fountains as wonderful additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and celebrate the designer responsible for creating it. Roman fountains often depicted imagery of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks.
Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create smaller depictions of the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exercise his power over nature. 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.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. The introduction of unique water effects and the recycling of water were 2 things made possible by swapping gravity with mechanical pumps.
These days, fountains decorate public spaces and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Statuary As a Staple of Vintage Art in Archaic Greece
Statuary As a Staple of Vintage Art in Archaic Greece The primitive Greeks built the very first freestanding statuary, an impressive achievement as most sculptures up until then had been reliefs cut into walls and pillars. Most of the freestanding statues were of youthful, winsome male or female (kore) Greeks and are called kouros figures.
The kouroi, considered by the Greeks to portray beauty, had one foot stretched out of a rigid forward-facing posture and the male statues were regularly nude, with a compelling, strong shape. The kouroi became life-sized starting in 650 BC. The Archaic period was an awesome time of transformation for the Greeks as they extended into new modes of government, produced unique expressions of art, and gained knowledge of the people and cultures outside of Greece. However, these battles did little to hamper the advancement of the Greek civilization.
The Countless Styles of Water Wall Fountains
The Countless Styles of Water Wall Fountains If you want to have a place to relax and add some flair to a small area such as a patio or courtyard, wall fountains are ideal because they do not take up much space. Whatever style of outdoor wall fountain you are searching for whether it be traditional, contemporary, classic, or Asian you will undoubtedly find the one you like most. While there are countless prefabricated ones on the market, you may need a customized fountain if none of these are pleasing to you.The two kinds of water features available to you include mounted and freestanding models. You can place a mounted wall fountain because they are little and self-contained. Fountains of this kind need to be light, therefore, they are usually made of resin (resembling stone) or fiberglass.
In large stand-alone fountains, otherwise referred to as wall fountains, the basin is set on the ground with the flat side positioned against a wall. Typically made of cast stone, these water features have no weight restrictions.
Customized fountains which can be incorporated into a new or existing wall are often prescribed by landscaping designers. Hiring an expert mason is your best option to build the basin and install the necessary plumbing. A fountain mask or a spout also needs to be integrated into the wall. A custom-made wall fountain blends into the landscape instead of standing out because it was a later addition, which contributes to a cohesive look.