“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.
‘Bounding to light, as if from ocean’s cave,