Art Out-of-Doors 



soirs are of irregular shapes and unequal 

 lengths, so that they appear less to be bra- 

 cing up than to be sliding past each other ? 

 Richardson's idea of the way in which a 

 bridge in a naturalistically treated pleasure- 

 ground ought to be built is shown by the 

 one that carries Boylston Street across the 

 Fens in Boston-. It is a large bridge and 

 entirely devoid of ornament — perfectly plain 

 and simple above and below. Bat the wide, 

 graceful, sinewy sweep of its arch, its beau- 

 tifully modelled buttresses and coping, and 

 the well-regulated shape and carefully fin- 

 ished surface of all its stones, make it as 

 true and refined and as noteworthy a work 

 of art as any of the more elaborate things 

 that Richardson ever built. Indeed, if I 

 were asked to point out a quite perfect 

 piece of Richardson's handiwork, I think I 

 should point to this bridge. Not far away 

 from it stands another bridge, with three 

 arches, built in the now prevalent rustic " 

 manner. In general design it is very good, 

 and were its fabric as architectural and its 

 finish as perfect as its neighbor's, the two 

 would form a most happy contrast. But 



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