The Genesis Of Outdoor Fountains
The Genesis Of Outdoor Fountains The amazing or ornamental effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to delivering drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Inhabitants of cities, townships and small towns used them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains needed to be connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. 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 shoot high into the air. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Roman fountains usually depicted images of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise.
To show his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains built to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Since indoor plumbing became the standard 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 decorative. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Nowadays, fountains decorate public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Pick from Any Number of Outdoor Wall Fountain Styles
Pick from Any Number of Outdoor Wall Fountain Styles If you want to have a place to relax as well as add some flair to a small area such as a patio or courtyard, wall fountains are ideal because they do not occupy much space.
When looking at the many types of outdoor wall fountains available including traditional, vintage, contemporary, or Asian, you are certain to find one most suitable to your design ideas. While there are countless prefabricated ones on the market, you may need a customized fountain if none of these are pleasing to you. There are two specific styles of fountains you can buy: mounted and free-standing. Mounted wall fountains are small and self-contained variations which can be displayed on a wall. Fountains of this type need to be light, therefore, they are typically fabricated from resin (resembling stone) or fiberglass. Free-standing fountains, often referred to as floor fountains, are sizable, have a basin located on the ground and a smooth side which leans against a wall. There are no weight limits on these types of cast stone water features.
Custom-built fountains which can be incorporated into a new or existing wall are often prescribed by landscaping designers. The basin and all the necessary plumbing are best installed by a trained mason. The wall will have to have a spout or fountain mask incorporated into it. If you want a cohesive look for your garden, buy a customized wall fountain because it becomes part of the panorama rather than an afterthought.
Bernini's First Showpieces
Bernini's First Showpieces The Barcaccia, a beautiful fountain constructed at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna, was Bernini's earliest fountain. To this day, you will find Roman residents and vacation goers filling this space to revel in chit chatter and being among other people. Today, the city streets surrounding Bernini's fountain are a trendy area where people go to gather, something which the artist would have been pleased to learn. In around 1630, Pope Urbano VIII helped Bernini start off his career with the construction of his very first fountain. Illustrated in the fountain's design is a great vessel slowly sinking into the Mediterranean Sea. Period reports dating back to the 16th century show that the fountain was built as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the great flooding of the Tevere. In what turned out to be his one and only extended absence from Italy, Bernini {journeyed | traveled] to France in 1665.A Brief History of Early Fountains
A Brief History of Early Fountains As initially conceived, fountains were designed to be functional, directing water from streams or reservoirs to the inhabitants of cities and villages, where the water could be used for cooking food, cleaning, and drinking. The force of gravity was the power source of water fountains up until the conclusion of the nineteenth century, using the potent power of water traveling downhill from a spring or brook to squeeze the water through valves or other outlets. The beauty and wonder of fountains make them appropriate for historic monuments. If you saw the 1st fountains, you would not recognize them as fountains. The first recognized water fountain was a stone basin carved that served as a receptacle for drinking water and ceremonial functions. Rock basins as fountains have been found from 2000 BC. The jet of water emerging from small spouts was pressured by gravity, the only power source creators had in those days. These historic water fountains were designed to be functional, commonly situated along aqueducts, streams and waterways to supply drinking water. Fountains with decorative Gods, mythological monsters, and animals began to show up in Rome in about 6 BC, made from rock and bronze. The extraordinary aqueducts of Rome supplied water to the eye-catching public fountains, most of which you can travel to today.