RURAL ARCUITECTURE. 385 



term, accommodating style. The Roman stijls is dis- 

 tinguished from its prototype by the introduction of arched 

 openings over the doors and windows, story piled over 

 story, — often with columns of different orders — instead of 

 the simple unbroken line of the Greek edifices. In 

 decoration, the buildings in this style vary from plain, 

 unornamented exteriors, to the most highly decorated 

 facades ; and instead of being confined to the few fixed 

 principles of the Greek, the greatest latitude is often 

 observed in the proportions, forms, and decorations of 

 buildings in the Roman style. These very circumstances, 

 while they rendered the style less perfect as a fine art, or 

 for public edifices, gave it a pliability or facility of 

 adaptation, which fits it more completely for domestic 

 purposes. For this reason, a great portion of the finest 

 specimens of the modern domestic architecture of the 

 other continent is to be found in the Roman style.* 



The Italian style is, we think, decidedly the most 

 beautiful mode for domestic purposes, that has been the 

 direct offspring of Grecian art. It is a style which has 

 evidently grown up under the eyes of the painters of more 

 modern Italy, as it is admirably adapted to harmonize with 

 general nature, and produce a pleasing and picturesque 

 effect in fine landscapes. Retaining more or less of the 

 columns, arches, and other details of the Roman style, it 

 has intrinsically a bold irregularity, and strong contrast of 

 light and shadow, which give it a peculiarly striking and 

 painter-like effect. 



* Perhaps the finest facjade "f a private residence, in America, is that of the 

 "Patroon's house," near Albany, the ancient seat of the Van Rensselaer 

 family, lately remodelled and improved by that skilful architect, Mr. Upjohn, 

 of New York. 



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