Codex Atlanticus

CA f. 1099 r: Hydraulic pump and fountain within a building

The folio shows two drawings of a pump-powered fountain: below, there is the hydraulic device itself; above, the architectural elaboration for housing the fountain. As we can clearly see from the drawing in the lower part of the folio, a mill wheel moved by water current drives two pumps that lift water. The final result is that of a fountain enclosed within the upper part of a very elegant building. Through a portico with Corinthian columns we can glipmpse a basin-style fountain, surmounted by a statue. On the front part there are the two pumps, activated by the wheel.