The images an outdoor fountain evokes in our minds is often the peacefully splashing fountains of old European villages, or the ornate centerpieces for age-old cities, or the vast works of art set before beautiful palaces. For many, outdoor fountains are imbued with romantic visions of raven-haired women playfully splashing through the clear waters of a gigantic fountain in some Italian city square, or beautiful sculptures mermaids or animals spouting crystalline arcs into a glittering pool. Whatever visions they conjure, outdoor fountains are synonymous with tranquil beauty and luxury.

Fountains have their origins in the natural springs that early civilizations used as water sources. Many fountains emulated the natural settings of the springs they emulated, culminating in huge man-made grottoes. Early fountains depended on gravity to create a flow of water, and became inventive in their designs, creating figures that moved, powered by the water flow. Ancient Romans marked the end point of their aqueducts with a public fountain which the masses would use for water to drink, cook or bathe with.

The pinnacle of fountain design is arguably the great fountains of the Italian renaissance; huge and elaborate sculptures, often created by renowned masters. The world famous Trevi fountain located in the center of Rome was designed for Pope Urban VIII by Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini. This immense masterpiece is themed after ancient Roman mytholology. Neptune is seen controlling the waters surrounded by triteness pulling his shell sea-chariot. This outdoor fountain combines elaborate sculpture of figures and realistic rock structures to make a grand display for the end-works of the great aqueduct of Rome.

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