The City Of Rome, Gian Bernini, And Fountains
The City Of Rome, Gian Bernini, And Fountains
There are countless renowned fountains in the city center of Rome. Gian Lorenzo Bernini, one of the best sculptors and artists of the 17th century planned, created and produced nearly all of them. Traces of his life's efforts are apparent all through the roads of Rome simply because, in addition to his capabilities as a water fountain builder, he was also a city architect. Ultimately travelling to Rome to fully express their art, primarily in the form of community water fountains, Bernini’s father, a famed Florentine sculptor, guided his young son. An diligent employee, the young Bernini acquired praise and the backing of many popes and influential designers. He was originally celebrated for his sculpture. An authority in ancient Greek architecture, he utilized this knowledge as a base and melded it seamlessly with Roman marble, most notably in the Vatican. Though he was influenced by many, Michelangelo had the most serious effect on him, both personally and professionally.
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings A fountain, an incredible piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.Originally, fountains only served a practical purpose. Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to supply 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 supply of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Acting as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. Bronze or stone masks of animals and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. To show his prominence 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 made to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for clean, 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 provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Decorating city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the purposes of modern-day fountains.