Gian Bernini's Garden Fountains
Gian Bernini's Garden Fountains There are any number of celebrated Roman water fountains in its city center. Practically all of them were designed, architected and built by one of the greatest sculptors and artists of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Also a city designer, he had abilities as a water feature designer, and remnants of his life's work are noticeable throughout the roads of Rome. Bernini's father, a renowned Florentine sculptor, guided his young son, and they ultimately settled in Rome, to thoroughly express their art in the form of community water fountains and water features. The young Bernini was an great employee and earned compliments and patronage of significant painters as well as popes. His sculpture was initially his claim to fame. Most particularly in the Vatican, he made use of a base of knowledge in classic Greek architecture and melded it effortlessly with Roman marble.
Though many artists impacted his artistic endeavors, Michelangelo affected him the most.
Modern Garden Decor: Garden Fountains and their Roots
Modern Garden Decor: Garden Fountains and their Roots 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.
From the onset, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. 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. 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 move downwards or jet high into the air. Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and celebrate the artist. The main materials used by the Romans to create 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 meant to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Since indoor plumbing became the norm of the day for fresh, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Beautifying city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.
The Wide Range of Outdoor Water Features
The Wide Range of Outdoor Water Features Have you ever thought about turning your garden into an oasis of serenity? Add a sense of tranquility to your garden with an exterior fountain and avail yourself of all the positive effects of a water feature.The stream of water sent shooting into the air by a spouting fountain is an spectacular sight to see. It is feasible to have one of these fitted into an existing, ample pond. Parks and traditional stately homes often have one these fountains.
Choose a stylish wall fountain to put outside. These types of water features make for a fantastic addition to your yard even if it is small. Wall fountains leave a subtle impression, contrary to the big effect created by spouting fountains. In this straightforward process, water is ejected from a little spout, flows down a wonderfully textured wall, before being received at the bottom and returned to the top once again.
Your garden’s style determines whether a themed fountain is right for you. If your bungalow 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. Something special and bold could be an option for more modern gardens. Choosing what to do is entirely in your hands.
Water flows down several levels in a tiered fountain.
Cascading fountains is another expression used to identify this type of fountain because water flows down multiple levels.
The space necessary for an outdoor fountain can be vast, therefore, a better alternative is to install a wall fountain or a pondless fountain. These kinds of water features are ideal for an area with limited space because their reservoirs are buried underground.
If you seek a feeling of serenity and calmness, put in a Japanese fountain as these are considered to bring about such sensations. The water moves through bamboo sticks in this kind of water feature. The repetition of water pouring into a bucket or shaped stone is one of the main characteristics of this type of fountain.
Fountains made of glass are another type available. Providing a more classical appearance are trellis-style fountains which feature shaped metalwork. Gardens with numerous sharp edges as well as modern forms and designs are better for these types of water features. As the water streams over the top of the glass it produces a dazzling effect. Some fountains also include colored LED lights to shine onto the sheets of glass as water cascades downwards. The jagged surface of rock waterfall fountain makes for an appealing façade as the water softly trickles downwards.
The characteristic which distinguishes a bubbling rock fountain is a large rock drilled with holes where pipes can be inserted into its middle. Low pressure is used to spout out the water which then bubbles and gurgles at the top. Water then streams as a delicate trickle down the sides of the rock to its base. This is yet another option for gardens with restricted space. To guarantee that water is not sprayed around if it begins to get windy, this kind of fountain is the best choice since it only uses low pressure to move water.
Solar fountains have recently gained in popularity because they are powered by the sun. There are numerous reasons for this newly found appeal such as the absence of cables, less difficulty in running them, a reduction in electricity bills, and the benefits to the environment. You will not have to concede on style since there is a wide range of designs to choose from in outdoor solar-powered fountains.