Renaissance Water Fountains of Tuscany

Two noticeable types of Tuscan water fountains highly regarded in the fifteenth century were designed for the center of a piazza, court, or garden called the freestanding or "isolated" kind; and the "engaged" or wall fountain, placed against a wall at the end of a square or plaza. Nowadays the residential property of the Banca del Monte dei Paschi, the only case of a Florentine wall fountain from this time period is the handsome structure of pietra serena in the court of the Palazzo Orlandini. A singular niche click lawn capped by an archway and framed by classic pilasters comprised of the water falling from an decorative conduit within the basin’s recess and situated at its base. Known as lavabos, structures comparable to wall fountains, are plentiful in Florentine churches and friaries. These are not really real fountains even though supplied with flowing water because the water, operated by a spigot, is switched on exclusively when desired and not utilized for continuous display. The celebrant rinsed his hands at a lavatory called the lavabo just before blessing the host. Consequently the basin was positioned considerably higher than in a true wall fountain. In the acquaio, or lavatory of the exclusive residence, the lavabo had its secular similitude.