The Dissemination of Fountain Design Knowledge

Dissiminating useful hydraulic knowledge and water feature design ideas throughout Europe was accomplished with the written papers and illustrated books of the time. An internationally recognized innovator in hydraulics in the late 1500's was a French fountain engineer, whose name has been lost to history. His competence in designing gardens and grottoes with integrated and imaginative water fountains began in Italy and with mandates in Brussels, London and Germany. “The Principles of Moving Forces”, a guide which became the fundamental book on hydraulic technology and engineering, was composed by him toward the end of his life in France. The book updated crucial hydraulic discoveries since classical antiquity as well as detailing contemporary hydraulic technologies. The water screw, a technical method to move water, and invented by Archimedes, was featured in the book. An beautiful spring with sunlight heating the liquid in two containers hidden in an adjacent room was shown in one illustration. What occurs is the hot liquid expanded, rises and locks up the conduits leading to the water fountain, consequently leading to activation. Pumps, article source water wheels, water attributes and backyard pond styles are covered in the publication.