Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/804

 780 COTTAGE, FAllM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. With a view to modern Villa Architecture, this vignette suggests fewer hints than any which have preceded it. There are no projecting parts or appendages " sliooting out," as Mr. Hope expresses it, in all directions among the surrounding garden scenery ; no terrace serving as a basement ; no steps or porch indicating an entrance ; and no colonnade or arcade suggesting the idea of elegant enjoyment. Still, we may imagine a situation where such a tower might be built as an ornament, as a ruin, as a prospect tower, or for the purpose of commemorating some ancient castle, which may be supposed to have formerly stood upon the spot. Fi". 14'J;2 is from Sermonita. " The main tower appears to have on one side a semi- circular shape which we have not before met with. The sky line of the whole deserves H22 the notice of Architects. We have here another example of low circular towers on the left, built to abut upon and protect the foundation of the large square tower." Fig. 1423 is from Caspar Poussin. " This is one of the largest edifices we have selected, and appears to form two sides of a square. Both in the facade and sky line there is much variety of outline. The other two sides of the square are formed by the walls enclosing the garden. If these ■svalls had originally been higher and embattled, the whole would 1423 have been a very strong baronial castle of the largest dimensions. The building has a simple picturesque appearance, and may be advantageously compared with many large irregular structures lately erected in different parts of Britain." Fig. 1424 is from Domenichino. " The round tower has been apparently the nucleus of this mansion. The other parts are likely to be the work of the fourteenth or fifteenth century ; but whether the portico be ancient, or merely the addition of the painter, we cannot determine. The scenery is similar in the original picture. In calling the attention of Architects to the sky line of irregular buildings, we do not mean that the tipper lines should cut against the sky ; on the contrary, we think this has always a harsh eflect. Buildings appear most agreeable when backed by wood or rising ground."