The “stiff approach” to a country residence (left) and the “happiest effects” of a redesign following in “a magical manner…the principles of modern Landscape Gardening,” from Downing’s Treatise (1841), pp. 62-63Converging paths in The Ramble, Central Park, December 2016Ridge Road (left) and Bethune Road (right), February 2025Rustic seats in Andrew Jackson Downing’s Treatise (1841), p. 385A rustic bench in The Ramble, Central Park, March 2014Frederic E. Church, sketch of a rustic bench, 1889. Paper, graphite. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. Olana State Historic Site. OL.1980.1579(V)
Rustic bench at the top of Crown HillEven the roadblocks at Olana have an artistic, rustic look.Even the ADA path at the Frederic Church Center has a gentle bend, reminding a visitor of Andrew Jackson Downing’s design philosophy
