"Old School" Fountain Designers
"Old School" Fountain Designers Often working as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and cultivated scholars all in one, from the 16th to the later part of the 18th century, fountain designers were multi-faceted individuals, During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci illustrated the creator as an imaginative genius, inventor and scientific expert.
With his astounding fascination about the forces of nature, he researched the properties and movement of water and methodically annotated his findings in his now much celebrated notebooks. Early Italian fountain engineers changed private villa configurations into inspiring water showcases full of symbolic meaning and natural elegance by coupling creativity with hydraulic and horticultural experience. The humanist Pirro Ligorio provided the vision behind the wonders in Tivoli and was distinguished for his abilities in archeology, architecture and garden design. Other fountain designers, masterminding the incredible water marbles, water features and water humor for the countless mansions in the vicinity of Florence, were well-versed in humanist themes and time-honored scientific readings.
Where did Landscape Fountains Originate from?
Where did Landscape Fountains Originate from? The incredible construction 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 complement your home.
Pure functionality was the original role of fountains. Residents of urban areas, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains had to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water supply, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the designer who created it. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create smaller depictions of the gardens of paradise. Fountains enjoyed a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exercise his power over nature. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains made to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
The end of the 19th century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public spaces and are used to honor individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.