The Source of Modern Day Outdoor Water Fountains
The Source of Modern Day Outdoor Water Fountains The translation of hundreds of classic Greek documents into Latin was commissioned by the learned Pope Nicholas V who led the Church in Rome from 1397 till 1455. In order to make Rome worthy of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope resolved to embellish the beauty of the city. At the behest of the Pope, the Aqua Vergine, a ruined aqueduct which had carried clean drinking water into Rome from eight miles away, was restored starting in 1453. The ancient Roman tradition of marking the arrival point of an aqueduct with an magnificent celebratory fountain, also known as a mostra, was restored by Nicholas V. The architect Leon Battista Alberti was directed by the Pope to build a wall fountain where we now see the Trevi Fountain.
The water which eventually furnished the Trevi Fountain as well as the acclaimed baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona came from the modified aqueduct which he had renovated.
Modern Garden Decoration: Fountains and their Beginnings
Modern Garden Decoration: Fountains and their Beginnings The dramatic or ornamental effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, as well as providing drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the vicinity. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Roman fountains usually depicted images of animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic 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 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.
The end of the 19th century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
These days, fountains adorn public spaces and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
The Positive Benefits of Adding a garden fountain in Your Living Area
The Positive Benefits of Adding a garden fountain in Your Living Area A good way to enhance the appeal of your outdoor living area is to add a wall water feature or an exterior garden fountain to your landscaping or garden layout. Many current designers and artisans have been inspired by historical fountains and water features.
Therefore, in order to link your home to previous times, add one these in your decor. Among the many properties of these beautiful garden fountains is the water and moisture they discharge into the air which attracts birds and other wild life as well as helps to balance the ecosystem. For example, irritating flying insects are usually deterred by the birds drawn to the fountain or birdbath. Spouting or cascading fountains are not the best alternative for a small yard since they need a great deal of space. You can choose to put in a stand-alone fountain with a flat back and an connected basin propped against a fence or wall in your backyard, or a wall-mounted type which is self-contained and hung from a wall. Both a fountain mask located on the existing wall as well as a basin located at the bottom to collect the water are equired if you wish to add a fountain. It is best not to undertake this job yourself as skilled plumbers and masons are more suitable to do this type of work.