Inventors of the First Outdoor Fountains
Inventors of the First Outdoor Fountains Water feature designers were multi-talented individuals from the 16th to the late 18th century, often working as architects, sculptors, artisans, engineers and highly educated scholars all in one person. During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci exemplified the creator as a creative intellect, creator and scientific virtuoso. He systematically recorded his experiences in his currently famed notebooks, after his immense interest in the forces of nature guided him to research the properties and mobility of water.
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Garden Fountains and their Roots 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 beginning, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains functioned using the force of 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. The main materials used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. To show his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to exalt their positions by including decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
Since indoor plumbing became the norm 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. Amazing water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the force of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and enhance entertainment and recreational events.
Bernini’s First Italian Water Fountains
Bernini’s First Italian Water Fountains One can see Bernini's very first masterpiece, the Barcaccia fountain, at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, this area is filled with Roman locals and tourists alike who enjoy debate and each other's company. Today, the city streets around Bernini's fountain are a trendy area where people go to gather, something which the artist would have been pleased to learn. In around 1630, Pope Urbano VIII helped Bernini start off his career with the construction of his very first water fountain. A massive ship slowly sinking into the Mediterranean is the fountain's central theme. According to 16th century texts, a great flood of the Tevere covered the entire area in water, an event which was commemorated by the tremendous fountain. In 1665 Bernini traveled to France, in what was to be his only lengthy absence from Italy.The Myriad Reasons to Include a Wall Fountain
The Myriad Reasons to Include a Wall Fountain The area outside your home can be polished up by including a wall or a garden fountain to your landscaping or garden project. A myriad of present-day designers and fountain craftsmen have found inspiration in the fountains and water features of the past. You can also strengthen the link to the past by incorporating one of these to your home's interior design. In addition to the positive characteristics of garden fountains, they also generate water and moisture which goes into the air, thereby, attracting birds as well as other creatures and harmonizing the environment. For instance, irksome flying insects are usually deterred by the birds attracted to the fountain or birdbath.Putting in a wall fountain is your best solution for a little garden because a spouting or cascading fountain occupies too much space. You can choose to set up 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 suspended from a wall. Be sure to include a fountain mask to an existing wall and a basin to collect the water at the bottom if you wish to add a fountain to your living area. Since the plumbing and masonry work is extensive to complete this type of job, you should hire a professional to do it rather than try to do it alone.