RURAL ARCHITECTURE. 



of which have been so mutihited and disfigured by modern repairs, by convertinp; 

 castles into palaces, and changing convents into dwelling-houses, that pointed arches 

 and battlements have become the leading features of modern Gothic buildings. The 

 detail of parts is studied, but the character of the whole is overlooked. No atten- 

 tion is given to that bold and irregular outline, which constitutes' the real basis and 

 beauty of the Gothic character; where, instead of one uniform line of roof and 

 front, some parts project, and others recede : but wherever the roof is visible over 

 the battlements, it seems as if it rose to proclaim the triumph of art over science, 

 or carpentry over architecture. The elevation D, (Fig. 1.) represents one of these 

 spruce villas, surrounded by spruce firs, attended by Lombardy poplars, profusely 

 scattered over the face of the country. That at F, may be supposed the fragment 

 of some ancient castle, or manor-house, repaired and restored to make it habitable ; 

 and that at E is something betwixt the two. 



The remaining part of this subject 

 more peculiarly belongs to the land, 

 scape gardener, whose province it is 

 to consider the eflFect of nature and 

 art combined : let us examine the two 

 different styles in the two landscapes 

 in the next plate. 



In the quiet, calm, and beautiful 0^ ^^ 

 scenery of a tame country, the elegant ^Sgg 

 forms of Grecian art (Fig. 2) are, 

 surely, more grateful and appropriate 

 than a ruder and severer style ; but, 



, , Fig. 2. A tame countrv, for which Grecian architecture 



on the contrary, there are some wild is supposed to be most suitable. 



and romantic situations, whose rocks, 

 and dashing mountain-streams, or deep 

 umbrageous dells, would seem to bar- 

 '--i^i^^ monize with the proud baronial tower, 

 ?SS^i=^ or mitred abbey, "embosomed high in 

 tufted trees," as tending to associate 

 the character of the building with that 

 of its native accompaniment (see Fg. 



3.) 



The outline of a building is never 



so well seen as when in shadow, and 



opposed to a brilliant sky; or when it 



T. , A K .^ ^ . <■ K, ., .», . „ . ^ is reflected on the surface of a pool : 



Fig. 3. A bold rugged country, for which the castellated ^ 



oothic is considered best adapted. ^■^Q^ tjjg grgfit difference bctwixt the 



Grecian and Gothic character is more peculiarly striking. 



^2t: 



