The Origins Of Fountains
The Origins Of Fountains A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to provide drinkable water, as well as for decorative purposes.The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Inhabitants of urban areas, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains needed to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and celebrate the designer.
The main components used by the Romans to create their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were intended to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains built to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
The end of the nineteenth century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. The creation of unique water effects and the recycling of water were two things made possible by replacing gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational events.
Early Water Supply Techniques in Rome
Early Water Supply Techniques in Rome With the construction of the first elevated aqueduct in Rome, the Aqua Anio Vetus in 273 BC, individuals who lived on the city’s foothills no longer had to depend exclusively on naturally-occurring spring water for their needs.
If citizens residing at higher elevations did not have access to springs or the aqueduct, they’d have to rely on the remaining existing solutions of the day, cisterns that accumulated rainwater from the sky and subterranean wells that drew the water from below ground. In the very early 16th century, the city began to utilize the water that flowed below ground through Acqua Vergine to supply drinking water to Pincian Hill. As originally constructed, the aqueduct was provided along the length of its channel with pozzi (manholes) constructed at regular intervals. Although they were initially developed to make it possible to support the aqueduct, Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi began using the manholes to accumulate water from the channel, opening when he bought the property in 1543. Although the cardinal also had a cistern to accumulate rainwater, it couldn't produce enough water. To give himself with a much more efficient means to assemble water, he had one of the manholes exposed, offering him access to the aqueduct below his property.
A Short History of the Early Outdoor Public Fountains
A Short History of the Early Outdoor Public Fountains As originally developed, fountains were designed to be functional, directing water from streams or aqueducts to the residents of towns and settlements, where the water could be utilized for cooking food, washing, and drinking.
A source of water higher in elevation than the fountain was required to pressurize the flow and send water spraying from the fountain's spout, a technology without equal until the late 19th century. Fountains throughout history have been crafted as memorials, impressing local citizens and travelers alike. The contemporary fountains of today bear little resemblance to the very first water fountains. A natural stone basin, carved from rock, was the 1st fountain, utilized for holding water for drinking and religious functions. The first stone basins are presumed to be from around 2000 BC. Gravity was the power source that controlled the oldest water fountains. The location of the fountains was influenced by the water source, which is why you’ll commonly find them along reservoirs, waterways, or streams. Beasts, Gods, and religious figures dominated the initial ornate Roman fountains, starting to appear in about 6 BC. The extraordinary aqueducts of Rome delivered water to the spectacular public fountains, most of which you can visit today.
Bernini's First Masterpieces
Bernini's First Masterpieces The Barcaccia, Bernini's very first water fountain, is a magnificent chef d'oeuvre built at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. This spot is still filled with Roman locals and visitors who like to exchanging gossip or going over the day's news. The streets surrounding his fountain have come to be one of the city’s most trendy meeting places, something which would certainly have pleased Bernini himself.
In about 1630, the great master built the first water fountain of his career at the behest of Pope Ubano VIII. People can now see the fountain as an illustration of a great ship slowly sinking into the Mediterranean. The great flooding of the Tevere that blanketed the whole region with water in the 16th was memorialized by this momentous fountain as recorded by documents dating back to this period. Absenting himself from Italy only once in his life for a prolonged period of time, in 1665 Bernini traveled to France.