BRIDGES IN THE MIND
  • Bridges and fear

There was an aesthetic theory according to which perilous bridges across a precipice caused emotion in the viewer, who sympathised with the traveller crossing them at great risks

 refer to the text by Whateley previously studied
  • The 'distances' in painting

Bridges in paintings served the structural principle of linking the various 'distances' in the landscape

see CATI website

you may find bridges in landscape paintings (see question on Gainsborough's view of a Bridge in the Tate Gallery website)

  • Imaginary bridges

Bridges were in themselves architectural motifs borrowed from imaginary designs, suggesting ideal structures.

see the idea of imaginary designs ; if you look at the 'Theatre of icons' section, you will find see that this question has both philosophical and visual consequences