Palladian Architecture

Is a style of architecture based on the work of Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580).

Palladio drew his inspiration from the formal temple architecture of Ancient Greek and Rome using their symmetry, perspective and values as the basis of his own architectural concepts and design. He was a follower of the Roman architect Vitruvius (80-15 BC) and Vitruvius’ disciple Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) who focused on the designing buildings based on the classical mathematical proportions, rather than the more decorative Renaissance style.

Working during the 1500’s Palladio’s own work is all located in Venice and the Veneto. Vincenza is known as ‘Palladio’s City’ due to the high concentration of his building there including many palazzi, and villas in the surrounding countryside for his wealthy estate-owning patrons. He also designed churches, the Redentore being an example in Venice.

Palladio’s interpretation of this classical style came to be known as ‘Palladianism’ from the 17th century onwards and it continued to develop until the early 19th century.

During the mid-17th century, the style found a great deal of popularity in Britain but the onset of the Civil War and the austerity that was enforced afterwards, cut short all interest in building on this scale.

Palladianism became popular again in England in the early 18th century and this revival also influenced other parts of Europe. Count Francesco Algarotti in Prussia wrote to the Earl of Burlington that he was recommending the style that Burlington had reintroduced to England to Frederick the Great. The opera house built by Knobelsdorff on the Unter den Linden in 1741 was based Colen Cambell’s Wansted House a Palladian inspired country house commissioned in 1715 by Sir Richard Child.

The was frequently used for municipal and other public buildings and continued to be popular in Europe throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was challenged in the later half of the 19th century by the Gothic Revival whose proponents, such as Augustus Pugin, thought the Palladian inspiration of ancient pagan temples wasn’t really suitable for Christian places of worship.

The style continues to be popular in modern buildings which continue to use the symmetry, proportions and pediments of the Palladian style.