The Source of Today's Fountains
The Source of Today's Fountains The translation of hundreds of classical Greek texts into Latin was commissioned by the scholarly Pope Nicholas V who led the Church in Rome from 1397 until 1455. In order to make Rome deserving of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope decided to embellish the beauty of the city. At the bidding of the Pope, the Aqua Vergine, a damaged aqueduct which had carried clean drinking water into Rome from eight miles away, was restored starting in 1453. Building a mostra, a grandiose commemorative fountain built by ancient Romans to memorialize the arrival point of an aqueduct, was a custom revived by Nicholas V.
The present-day site of the Trevi Fountain was formerly occupied by a wall fountain commissioned by the Pope and constructed by the architect Leon Battista Alberti. Changes and extensions, included in the restored aqueduct, eventually provided the Trevi Fountain and the well-known baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona with the necessary water supply.
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Originate from?
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Originate from? A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also propel water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be higher and closer to a water supply, including aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Roman fountains usually depicted images of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners incorporated fountains to create smaller variations of the gardens of paradise. To demonstrate his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
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 adorn public spaces and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Large Statuary
"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Large Statuary
Up right up until the Archaic Greeks developed the first freestanding sculpture, a remarkable achievement, carvings had primarily been accomplished in walls and pillars as reliefs. Youthful, appealing male or female (kore) Greeks were the subject matter of most of the statues, or kouros figures. The kouroi, viewed by the Greeks to represent beauty, had one foot extended out of a strict forward-facing pose and the male statues were always nude, with a strong, strong build. In around 650 BC, the variations of the kouroi became life-sized. Throughout the Archaic time, a great time of changes, the Greeks were evolving new forms of government, expressions of art, and a better awareness of people and cultures outside Greece. The Arcadian battles, the Spartan penetration of Samos, and other wars between city-states are good examples of the types of conflicts that emerged frequently, which is consistent with other times of historical transformation.
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Outdoor Fountains
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Outdoor Fountains In order to ensure that water fountains last a long time, it is important to perform regular maintenance. It is easy for foreign objects to find their way into outdoor fountains, so keeping it clean is essential. On top of that, algae can be a problem, because sunshine hitting the water permits it to form easily. Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be blended into the water to eliminate this issue. Bleach can also be dissolved into the water, but this is not the ideal option because it can hurt birds or other animals.Experts suggest that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough cleaning every 3-4 months. Before you can start washing it you should empty out all of the water. Next use gentle and a soft sponge to clean the innner part of the reservoir.
If there is delicate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Do not leave any soap deposits inside of or on the fountain.
Various organisms and calcium deposits can get inside the pump, so it is advised to take it apart and clean it completely. To make it less difficult, soak it in vinegar for several hours before cleaning. Build-up can be a big problem, so use mineral or rain water over tap water, when possible, to prevent this dilemma.
Finally, be sure to have a quick look at your fountain every day and add water if you notice that the level is low. Low water levels can damage the pump - and you don't want that!