The Origins Of Wall Fountains

The Origins Of Wall Fountains The amazing or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, as well as supplying drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.

From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to provide potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains operated using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to beautify their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners incorporated fountains to create smaller variations of the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot 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. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.

Modern fountains are used to embellish public spaces, honor individuals or events, and enrich recreational and entertainment events.

Gian Bernini's Garden Fountains

Gian Bernini's Garden Fountains There are many renowned fountains in the city center of Rome. One of the most distinguished sculptors and designers of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed, conceptualized and constructed almost all of them. His skills as a water feature developer and also as a city architect, are evident all through the streets of Rome. Ultimately travelling to Rome to totally show their art, primarily in the shape of public water fountains, Bernini’s father, a famed Florentine sculptor, guided his young son. The young Bernini earned encouragement from Popes and influential artists alike, and was an diligent employee. His sculpture was originally his claim to fame. An expert in classic Greek architecture, he utilized this knowledge as a base and melded it gracefully with Roman marble, most notably in the Vatican. Though a variety of artists impacted his artistic endeavors, Michelangelo inspired him the most.