Richardsonian Romanesque

This very free revival style incorporates 11th and 12th century southern French, Spanish and Italian Romanesque characteristics.

It emphasizes clear, strong picturesque massing, round-headed "Romanesque" arches, often springing from clusters of short squat columns, recessed entrances, richly varied rustication, blank stretches of walling contrasting with bands of windows, and cylindrical towers with conical caps embedded in the walling.

[5] Research is underway to try to document the westward movement of the artisans and craftsmen, many of whom were immigrant Italians and Irish, who built in the Richardsonian Romanesque tradition.

The style began in the East, in and around Boston, where Richardson built the influential Trinity Church on Copley Square.

Stone carvers and masons trained in the Richardsonian manner appear to have taken the style west, until it died out in the early decades of the 20th century.