Outdoor Garden Fountain Designers Through History
Outdoor Garden Fountain Designers Through History Often working as architects, sculptors, artists, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one, from the 16th to the late 18th century, fountain designers were multi-talented people, Leonardo da Vinci as a innovative genius, inventor and scientific virtuoso exemplified this Renaissance artist. With his immense curiosity regarding the forces of nature, he examined the attributes and movement of water and also methodically annotated his findings in his now celebrated notebooks. Early Italian water feature builders converted private villa configurations into innovative water exhibits complete of emblematic meaning and natural elegance by coupling creativity with hydraulic and horticultural talent. The brilliance in Tivoli were created by the humanist Pirro Ligorio, who was widely known for his skill in archeology, architecture and garden design. Well versed in humanist subjects and classical technical texts, other water feature designers were masterminding the phenomenal water marbles, water attributes and water pranks for the countless properties near Florence.Where did Landscape Fountains Originate from?
Where did Landscape 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 onset, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to provide drinkable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains functioned 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. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water.
The main components used by the Romans to create their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners incorporated fountains to create mini variations of the gardens of paradise. Fountains enjoyed a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exercise his power over nature. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to glorify 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 clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
Embellishing city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.