Fountains: Splash and Spectacle - Water and Design from the Renaissance to the Present

From the renovation of ancient aqueducts in Rome to the computer-controlled jets that celebrated the dawn of the twenty-first century, Fountains, Splash and Spectacle traces the history of fountain design over the centuries and across nations, exploring the collaborations of architects, sculptors, garden and landscape designers, hydraulics experts and engineers.

Thematic examination of the aesthetics, social implications and purposes of fountains reveals a surprising diversity of functions these structures provide, from flamboyant public gesture to private oasis.

Over 300 illustrations – photographs, paintings, etchings and drawings – accompany the many fountains discussed and also include designs for fascinating unrealized projects. A comprehensive bibliography and chronology make this a valuable work of reference as well as a joy to the eye.