Fountains.

Artificial fountains and jets d’eau are of extreme antiquity; they have been used for beautifying public grounds of cities, and have served the purpose of moderating the temperature of the air; in these cases the water has been in some instances perfumed.

“From excavations made at Pompeii it appears that in almost every street there was a fountain, and that bronze statues, through which the water issued were common,—several have been found,—four or five are boys of beautiful workmanship; the fluid issued from vases resting on their shoulders, or held under their arms, and in some cases from masks. Paintings of elegant fountains, from which the water issued in perpendicular jets, have also been discovered both at Herculaneum and Pompeii.”

“In the middle of the square of the Coliseum, is a pretty remarkable piece of antiquity, (says Blainville,) though very little minded by most people. Here stood anciently, a beautiful fountain, adorned with the finest marbles and columns; and on the top was a bronze statue of Jupiter, from which issued great plenty of water, as may be seen on the reverse of one of Titus’ medals. This fountain was of great use both to the spectators and the gladiators in the amphitheatre to refresh themselves. Pope Alexander VII. caused it to be repaired, but since his time it has been entirely neglected.”

“During hot weather, Augustus the Roman Emperor slept (observes Sentonius) with his chamber doors open, ‘and frequently in a portico with waters playing around him.’”

The garden water-works of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth are probably the finest in England; being ornamented by many fanciful devices and from a jet of six inches diameter the water rises perpendicularly to the height of 90 feet.

The most remarkable fountain or jet d’eau in the world, is at Cassal in Germany, where the water rises from an orifice of 12 inches diameter to a perpendicular height of 250 feet. The source from which it is supplied is at the top of a mountain near by, being about 500 feet above the level of the town. The surplus water not used for the supply of the fountain flows down the mountain-side forming a beautiful cascade.

The cities of Europe abound in fountains which in their arrangement furnish beautiful designs and are ornamented with specimens of workmanship displaying much skill and refinement of taste: a minute description of them would, however, occupy too much space, and since we have had our attention drawn (on the subject of Aqueducts) more particularly to the works of the Romans, we will revert to the

Fountains of Rome.

“If during the most distinguished eras of the Roman state, the Aqueducts conduced to the luxurious enjoyments of the wealthy and powerful, yet in modern times, the residents of Rome have also found them particularly advantageous, by their furnishing occasions for the cultivation of those elegant arts, which, in a peculiar manner, call forth the energies of genius, and the exercise of refined taste, in realizing and decorating her productions. Qualities of this kind appear conspicuous in several of the numerous fountains which adorn that celebrated city; and the most intellectual and accomplished professors of sculpture and architecture, have happily united beauty and grandeur in the construction of many such admirable edifices. These structures are also characterized by great diversity of design, as well as skilful execution; hence, a concise description of several of them may be interesting.”

“The largest structure of this kind in Rome, is that denominated the Pauline Fountain, which was built by order of Pope Paul V., with the materials of Nerva’s Forum. This spacious edifice is situate on the highest part of the Janiculum hill, and Dominica Fontana, and Carlo Mederno, furnished the designs for its construction. The front is adorned with six Ionic columns of red granite, on which an attic has a tablet containing an inscription with the pontiff’s arms placed above it. Between the columns the spaces are open, and from these arcades the currents of water flow with a loud noise, and in great abundance. The apertures on the sides are smaller than the others, and in each of those is placed a dragon spouting water into the spacious magnificent marble basin below. This fountain is furnished with water by the Aqueduct called Aqua Paolo; and it runs from the basin, in a very large stream into several canals, whence it is employed to work various corn, paper, and other mills, as well as to supply fountains and fish-ponds in the gardens and palaces of the opulent.”

“Near to the baths of Dioclesian, and in the square of the Termini, stands the fountain of the Aqua Felice. The edifice is not only elegant but fanciful, and it has three arcades ornamented with four Ionic columns of granite. The middle arcade has a colossal statue of Moses, causing the water to issue from the rock; and at the sides are two basso relievos, one representing Aaron leading the Israelites to the miraculous spring, and the other Gideon selecting the soldiers to enlarge the passage for the water, which flows in great abundance through three apertures into marble basins. The sides are adorned by four marble lions, with the water issuing from their mouths: two of these are formed of white Grecian marble, and the other two of black granite. The latter are Egyptian workmanship, and covered with hieroglyphics. This noble fountain was erected from a design of Cav. Fontana; by the order of Pope Sixtus V., and its supply of water is obtained twenty-two miles from the city.”

“Another of these fine structures is that called the Fountain of Trevi, in which boldness of design, and elegance of architecture are admirably united. The erection of this very magnificent edifice commenced during the pontificate of Clement XII., who repaired the Aqueducts. Niccolo Salvi designed the grand front, but the work was completed under Clement XIII., who decorated it with statues, basso relievos in marble, and different columns of the Corinthian, Ionic, and Composite orders. In the centre is a statue representing Oceanus, standing in a car, drawn by two large sea-horses, guided by Tritons. One of the horses appears furious and impatient, whilst, on the contrary, the other is exhibited as calm and placid, so that both are symbolical of the tempestuous or tranquil state of the sea.

“A statue, designating Abundance, is placed at the right of Oceanus, and on the left another emblematical of Health. The basso relievo, which adorns the right side, portrays the Emperor Trajan, contemplating a plan of the fountain; and that on the left exhibits a girl showing to some soldiers, the spring that supplies it with water. Various other sculptures decorate this superb edifice; and at the top of the principal front are two figures of Fame, supporting the arms of the Pope. Its supply of water is furnished by the Aqua Virgini, and it flows in very large streams from three arcades. The cost of constructing this splendid and useful fountain was great; but it ranks among the most interesting objects conspicuously embellishing the city of Rome.”

“The Piazza Novana has a very noble fountain standing in its centre. It is composed of a large circular marble basin 79 feet in diameter, in the middle of which is placed a rock of square form with apertures at the sides. The figure of a lion adorns one side, and that of a sea-horse another. From the base to the top of the rock, the height is about 14 feet; and on its summit stands an Egyptian obelisk formed of red granite, 55 feet in height, and covered with hieroglyphics. At the four sides of the rock are colossal marble statues, which designate the four great rivers in different quarters of the world: viz. the Danube, the Nile, the Ganges, and the Plata: and from these statues the water flows in copious streams to the spacious basin below.

“During the summer, it is the custom occasionally to permit the water to overflow the whole square, for the entertainment of the people; and on midsummer’s eve persons amuse themselves by wading and driving through the flood. This practice has sometimes been attended with fatal accidents, and not only men but horses have actually been drowned in the attempts to pass it in carriages.

“In the month of August the area of the square is likewise filled with water for the purpose of amusement.

“The same square likewise contains two other fountains, one of which consists of a capacious marble basin, having at its centre a Triton holding a dolphin by the tail; and on the margin of the basin are four heads with the same number of Tritons that spout the water from their mouths. The other fountain has not any remarkable characteristics to entitle it to peculiar attention.”

“Where formerly stood the circus of Flora is now the site of the Piazza Barberinni, which has two fountains to embellish it:—one of them being composed of four dolphins supporting a large open shell, with a Triton in the middle ejecting water to a great height. The other is fanciful, being also formed of an open shell, from which three bees throw out the water.”

“In the vicinity of the Temple of Vesta stands a handsome fountain, having a capacious basin, in which some Tritons support a large marble shell. From the centre of the latter, the water spouts to a considerable height, and then descending flows over its margin into the basin beneath. Some fine fountains adorn the magnificent colonnade in front of the Cathedral of St. Peter. The Piazza di Spagna has likewise for its embellishment, a fountain in the form of an antique boat. Besides the structures described above, there is a great number of other fountains which evince much diversity of taste and ingenuity in their contrivance. But at the different villas of the opulent, the abundance of water is rendered subservient to amusing as well as useful purposes, and several of them are rather singular. The description of one will convey some notion of what is common to many of them.

“The delightful promenades, groves, and gardens belonging to the Doria family, are interspersed with fountains of various forms; besides having a beautiful lake with waterfalls. Statues, antique basso relievos, and small fountains, adorn a kind of amphitheatre, where a circular edifice contains the marble figure of a fawn holding a flute, on which it seems to play different airs: the music, however, is produced by a machine resembling an organ in its construction, and motion being given to it by the flowing of the water from a cascade.”

“Perhaps the few instances recited above will suffice to demonstrate the different modes employed at Rome, for calling into exercise genius, fancy, and taste, to diversify the public edifices concerned with its abundant supply of water; thus rendering them subservient to magnificence, entertainment, and utility. Whilst John Dyer resided there, he viewed these celebrated fountains with the mingled feelings of the painter and the poet; hence, associating them with other interesting circumstances, they furnished the materials for one of his most striking and pathetic delineations.