Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 4.djvu/378

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332 [EXAMPLES. the arches are formed to suit their position, and are hollow Fro. 112. Bridge of Brioude. in the middle to diminish the weight. The roof of tho roadway is carried by 100 rough granite columns. Fig. 112 taken from Montfaucon s Antlquite expliquce^ Erioud* shows the old bridge of Brioude across the Allier in France. Montfaucon and Seguin speak of this as a I oman work, but Gauthey gives the date 1454 for its construction, and names Grenier and Estone as builders without giving liis authority. The design of the bridge appears to favour the date given by Gauthey. The span was 183 - 73 English feet (lieunic, Pn>< I.O.J J.), the arch was a segment of a circle and the height 60 feet, while the width of the bridge was only 1G feet. "This bridge fell in 1822. The bridge uf the llialto at Venice (fig. 113) was r.ialio, began in 1588, Antonio da Ponte being the architect, Venice, The span of the arch is 91 feet, the height above the water- level 24 feet G inches, and the width of the footway 72 feet. Erroneous statements arc often met with that thin bridgs was built from a design by Michel Angelo : the mistake has arisen from the misinterpretation of a passage in the works of Vasari. llondelct, in his Essai Illstorique ives a full account of the rival FIG. 113. Bridge of the Rialto, Venice. designs submitted to the senate by Antonio da Ponte and Palladio. Florence. Fig. 114 shows the singularly beautiful "Ponte della della Trinita," erected at Florence (15GG) from the designs of Ammanati. Those who are curious in such matters may Trinita. observe with interest the amended design for this bridge given in Hosking s Architectural Treatise, on Brul</e Build ing, p. 241, which serves to show how easily a noble design may be spoilt by an alteration in the proportions of its parts. .&8:o"- I so:o-- i 36 . o" -A as. o"- L --. -V.. .cs o- FIG. 114. Ponte della Trinita, Florence. York. A fine bridge over the Ouse at York, erected in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was taken down some years ago ; it is shown in fig. 115. The span of the largest arch was 81 feet (Allen), and the rise 26 feet 3 inches. Pont Neuf, The well-known Pont Neuf at Paris was built in 1604. Paris The design has no feature calling for special remark. Fig. 116 shows the bridge over the Con way at Llanrwst in Llannvst. Wales, the design for which was furnished by Inigo Jones in 1634. The middle arch has a span of 58 feet. The structure is easily set in vibration, and is known as the "shaking bridge." Further particulars concerning this and many other old English bridges will be found in Siniles s Lives of tlie Engineers, chap. iii. vol. ii., edition 1874. A bridge over the Scnderud at Ispahan is described Ispalia: as follows in Keek s Iconoyrapldc Encyclopaedia, with illustrations : " It (the bridge) is 2250 feet long, 120 feet high, and 156 feet broad; the middle way is GO feet broad, and the sideways are paved with marble, and the

latter lead through arcades, to which the ascent is by stairs