H.H. Richardson

H.H. Richardson's designs, especially master works such as the Trinity Church, Crane Memorial Library and even the Marshall Field Wholesale Store, with their huge yet coherent massing which lend to an understanding of the building’s function and parts diverge from their predecessors, specifically the purely rectangular massing of the classical styles.

Richardson’s Romanesque designs are often more refined details and decoration, including the large dominating Syrian arch which required less columns and capitals than classical or even Gothic styles. Aside from the decorative details Richardson's designs were often massively scaled and constructed almost entirely of stone.

For this reason this style was generally expensive and reserved for wealthy clientele, unlike the revival styles and other Victorian style which were easily transposed onto smaller scale buildings.