RURAL ARCHITECTURE. 
333 
term, accommodating style. The Roman style 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 facade of a private residence, in Americans 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. 
