The Origins Of Fountains
The Origins Of Fountains A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to supply drinking water, as well as for decorative purposes.
Originally, fountains only served a practical purpose. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the vicinity. Until the late nineteenth, 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. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. Roman fountains usually depicted images of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. To replicate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages added fountains to their designs. King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby limiting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Archaic Greek Artwork: Large Statuary
Archaic Greek Artwork: Large Statuary
The Archaic Greeks developed the first freestanding statuary, an awesome achievement as most sculptures up until then had been reliefs cut into walls and pillars. Most of the freestanding statues were of young, winsome male or female (kore) Greeks and are termed kouros figures. The kouroi were seen by the Greeks to represent beauty and were sculpted with one foot leading and an uncompromising firmness to their forward-facing poses; the male statues were always strapping, sinewy, and naked. In around 650 BC, the differences of the kouroi became life-sized. The Archaic period was turbulent for the Greeks as they evolved into more refined forms of government and art, and acquired more information about the peoples and societies outside of Greece. Still, these battles did little to hinder the progress of the Greek civilization.
Choose from Countless Outdoor Wall Fountain Designs
Choose from Countless Outdoor Wall Fountain Designs If you want to create a place to relax as well as add some pizzazz to a small area such as a patio or courtyard, wall fountains are ideal because they do not take up much space. Whatever design of outdoor wall fountain you are searching for whether it be traditional, modern, classic, or Asian you will certainly find the one you like most. It is possible to have one customized if you are unable to find a prefabricated fountain to suit you.
Depending on your needs, you can pick from mounted or freestanding models. Mounted wall fountains are small and self-contained versions which can be placed on a wall. Typically made of resin (to look like stone) or fiber glass, these kinds of fountains are lightweight and easy to hang. Large-sized free-standing wall fountains, commonly referred to as floor fountains, have their basins located on the floor and a smooth side leaning on a wall. There are no weight restrictions on these sorts of cast stone water features.
It is a good idea to incorporate a customized fountain into a new or existing wall, something often recommended by landscape experts. Placing the basin against the wall and installing all the plumbing work needs a expert mason to do it right. You will need to integrate a spout or fountain mask into the wall. The cohesive look produced by custom-made wall fountains make them appear to be part of the landscape instead of an afterthought.