The Original Outdoor Public Fountains
The Original Outdoor Public Fountains As initially developed, water fountains were crafted to be functional, guiding water from streams or aqueducts to the citizens of towns and villages, where the water could be used for cooking food, washing, and drinking. The force of gravity was the power source of water fountains up until the end of the 19th century, using the potent power of water traveling down hill from a spring or creek to squeeze the water through spigots or other outlets. Typically used as monuments and commemorative edifices, water fountains have influenced men and women from all over the world throughout the ages.
The contemporary fountains of modern times bear little likeness to the very first water fountains. Simple stone basins created from local material were the very first fountains, used for spiritual functions and drinking water. Rock basins as fountains have been found from 2,000 B.C.. The very first civilizations that utilized fountains relied on gravity to push water through spigots. Situated near reservoirs or springs, the functional public water fountains furnished the local populace with fresh drinking water. Fountains with elaborate decoration began to appear in Rome in about 6 B.C., commonly gods and creatures, made with stone or bronze. A well-designed collection of reservoirs and aqueducts kept Rome's public water fountains supplied with fresh water.
Builders of the First Water Features
Builders of the First Water Features Water fountain designers were multi-talented individuals from the 16th to the later part of the 18th century, often working as architects, sculptors, artisans, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one. During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci illustrated the artist as a imaginative intellect, creator and scientific virtuoso. He methodically annotated his findings in his now much celebrated notebooks about his investigations into the forces of nature and the properties and movement of water. Converting private villa settings into innovative water displays complete with symbolic interpretation and natural beauty, early Italian fountain engineers paired curiosity with hydraulic and gardening knowledge. The humanist Pirro Ligorio offered the vision behind the splendors in Tivoli and was recognized for his virtuosity in archeology, architecture and garden design.
Other fountain engineers, masterminding the incredible water marbles, water attributes and water antics for the many mansions in the vicinity of Florence, were tried and tested in humanist subject areas and time-honored scientific readings.