The Origins Of Garden Fountains
The Origins Of Garden Fountains The dramatic or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, as well as providing drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.The main purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs in the vicinity. Up to the late nineteenth 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 shoot high into the air. Serving as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times utilized by Romans to beautify their fountains. To illustrate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages added fountains to their designs.
Fountains played a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to exalt their positions by including beautiful baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into 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. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
Contemporary fountains are used to embellish community spaces, honor individuals or events, and enhance recreational and entertainment events.
Bernini’s Very First Italian Water Fountains
Bernini’s Very First Italian Water Fountains
One can see Bernini's earliest masterpiece, the Barcaccia fountain, at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, this area is flooded with Roman locals and travelers alike who enjoy debate and each other's company. Today, the city streets surrounding Bernini's fountain are a trendy place where people go to meet, something which the artist would have been pleased to learn. In around 1630, Pope Urbano VIII helped Bernini launch his professional life with the construction of his first water fountain. Depicted in the fountain's design is a large vessel gradually sinking into the Mediterranean Sea. According to 16th century reports, a great flood of the Tevere covered the entire area in water, an event which was commemorated by the eye-catching fountain. In 1665 Bernini traveled to France, in what was to be his only extended absence from Italy.
Select from Any Number of Outdoor Wall Fountain Styles
Select from Any Number of Outdoor Wall Fountain Styles
If you want to have a place to relax as well as add some pizzazz to a small area such as a patio or courtyard, wall fountains are perfect because they do not take up much space. The multitude of styles in outdoor wall fountains, including traditional, classic, contemporary, or Asian, means that you can find the one suitable to your tastes. If you are looking for a distinctive design, a customized one can be specially made to fit your specifications. Depending on your needs, you can choose from mounted or freestanding models. Mounted wall fountains are little and self-contained versions which can be placed on a wall. Fountains of this kind need to be lightweight, therefore, they are typically made of resin (resembling stone) or fiberglass. In large stand-alone fountains, otherwise known as wall fountains, the basin is situated on the ground with the smooth side positioned against a wall. Water features such as these are ordinarily manufactured of cast stone and have no weight limits.
It is a good idea to incorporate a customized fountain into a new or existing wall, something often recommended by landscape experts. Employing 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. If you want a cohesive look for your garden, get a customized wall fountain because it becomes part of the scenery rather than an afterthought.
Water Transport Strategies in Historic Rome
Water Transport Strategies in Historic Rome Prior to 273, when the 1st elevated aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was established in Rome, citizens who resided on hillsides had to journey further down to gather their water from natural sources.
Throughout this period, there were only two other technologies capable of offering water to elevated areas, subterranean wells and cisterns, which amassed rainwater. Starting in the sixteenth century, a new method was introduced, using Acqua Vergine’s subterranean portions to supply water to Pincian Hill. Pozzi, or manholes, were made at regular stretches along the aqueduct’s channel. Although they were initially planned to make it possible to support the aqueduct, Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi began using the manholes to gather water from the channel, starting when he bought the property in 1543. Whilst the cardinal also had a cistern to collect rainwater, it couldn't supply a sufficient amount of water. That is when he made a decision to create an access point to the aqueduct that ran under his residence.