More Than Water In A Fountain

There is more than water in a fountain when you consider the fountain as a piece of architecture.

More Than Water In A Fountain

Fountains can represent an event in history or be symbolic of a local industry or feature.

Fountains marking historical events

Victoria Fountain Brighton

There is a fabulous fountain in the middle of the Old Steine in Brighton (England, UK). The fountain stands tall, thirty-two feet in height (9.75 metres) and includes a large, cast-iron pool with a rim decorated with egg-and-dart mouldings. The sandstone blocks at the bottom support three intertwined dolphins, upon which rests a shallow, cast-iron basin with another above it.

This was commissioned to commemorate Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne in 1837. The fountain quickly became a local landmark and was protected as a Grade II listed structure on 13 October 1952.

Fountains Symbolic of Local Industry

Sheffield Peace Gardens Fountain

The Peace Gardens are an inner city square in Sheffield, England. The Peace Gardens have fountains in the middle and colourful cascades around the outside (as shown here) to represent the flowing molten steel which made Sheffield famous. The water features also represent the Sheffield Rivers which used to power the mills for Sheffield’s industry.

Italian Marble Fountains

Most Italian towns have a fountain in their main square or piazza. These are usually made of marble and in Central Italy where I live the marble is harvested locally. Therefore, the fountain also represents one of the local industries but in a very practical way.

This example of an Italian fountain in Cetona, Tuscany is typical of what you might see. A beautiful piece of architecture.

Fountains are often seen as a feature to sit by and cool off on a hot day. Next time, take a closer look, you may find there is more than water in a fountain.

Before you go

My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.

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Thank you for reading!