Styles of 18th century

The Palladian style

The baroque style, popular in continental Europe was never truly to the English taste., it was quickly
superseded in the first quarter of the 18th century by The Palladian style. Palladianism, style of architecture
based on the writings and buildings of the humanist and theorist from Vicenza, Andrea Palladio (1508–80),
perhaps the greatest architect of the latter 16th century and certainly the most influential. Palladianism
bespeaks rationality in its clarity, order, and symmetry, while it also pays homage to antiquity in its use of
classical forms and decorative motifs.

There are four books greatly contributed to Palladian architecture becoming established in 18th century Britain:

-Vitruvius Britannicus published by Colen Campbell, 1715

-Palladio's Four Books of Architecture translated by Giacomo Leoni, published from 1715 onwards.

-Leone Battista Alberti's De Re Aedificatoria, translated by Giacomo Leoni, published 1726.

-The Designs of Inigo Jones... with Some Additional Designs, published by William Kent, 2 vols., 1727.

The most popular of these among the wealthy patrons of the day was the four-volume Vitruvius Britannicus by
Colen Campbell (15 June 1676- 13 September 1729) . Campbell was both an architect and a publisher. The book
was basically a book of design containing architectural prints of British buildings, which had been inspired by
the great architects from Vitruvius to Palladio; at first
mainly those of Inigo Jones, but the later tomes contained
drawings and plans by Campbell and other 18th century
architects. Due to his book Vitruvius Britannicus, Colen
Campbell was chosen as the architect for banker Henry
Hoare I's Stourhead house, a masterpiece that became the
inspiration for dozens of similar houses across England.

The Palladian mansion at Stourhead

regencyhistory.net
In 1734 William Kent (1685 – 12 April 1748) and Lord Burlington (25 April, 1694- 4 December, 1753) designed
one of England's finest examples of Palladian architecture with Holkham Hall in Norfolk. The main block of this
house followed Palladio's dictates quite closely, but Palladio's low, often detached, wings of farm buildings
were elevated in significance. Kent attached them to the design, banished the farm animals, and elevated the
wings to almost the same importance as the house itself.

Holkham Hall
northnorfolkfoodfestival.co.uk

Architectural styles evolve and change to suit the requirements of each individual client. When in 1746 the
Duke of Bedford decided to rebuild Woburn Abbey, he chose the Palladian style for the design, as this was now
the most fashionable of the era. Henry Flitcroft (30 August 1697 – 25 February 1769) was chosen and his
designs, while Palladian in nature, would not be recognised by Palladio himself. The central block is small, only
three bays, the temple-like portico is merely suggested, and it is closed. Two great flanking wings containing a
vast suite of state rooms replace the walls or colonnades which should have connected to the farm buildings;
the farm buildings terminating the structure are elevated in height to match the central block, and given
Palladian windows, to ensure they are seen as of Palladian
design. This development of the style was to be repeated in
countless houses, and town halls in Britain over one hundred
years. Falling from favour during the Victorian era, it was
revived by Sir Aston Webb for his refacing of Buckingham
Palace in 1913.

Woburn Abbey
britainexpress.com
As the Palladian style swept Britain, all thoughts of mathematical proportion were swept away.

But architects soon found the Palladian search for an ideal architecture pointlessly limiting. Whilst the buildings
of the ancients should 'serve as models which we should imitate, and as standards by which we ought to judge',
a more eclectic approach was called for. In the words of the later 18th century's greatest architect, Robert
Adam: 'Rules often cramp the genius and circumscribe the idea of the master'

 Outstanding architecture:

Robert Adam (3 July 1728 – 3 March 1792)

was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer.

He was the son of William Adam (1689–1748), Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under
him. With his older brother John, Robert took on the family business, which included lucrative work for the
Board of Ordnance, after William's death.

In 1754, he left for Rome, spending nearly five years on the

continent studying architecture under Charles-Louis Clérisseau and
Giovanni Battista Piranesi. On his return to Britain he established a
practice in London, here he developed the "Adam Style", and his
theory of "movement" in architecture, based on his studies of
antiquity and became one of the most successful and fashionable
architects in the country.

R
o
b
ert Adam
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Adam

Robert Adam was a leader of the first phase of the classical revival in England and Scotland from around 1760
until his death. He influenced the development of Western architecture, both in Europe and in North America.
Adam designed interiors and fittings as well as houses.

Robert Adam rejected the Palladian style, as introduced to England by Inigo Jones, and advocated by Lord
Burlington, as "ponderous" and "disgustful".However, he continued their tradition of drawing inspiration
directly from classical antiquity, during his four-year stay in Europe. Through the adoption of classical motifs,
Adam developed a new style of architectural decoration.

The Adam brothers' principle of "movement" was largely Robert's conception, although the theory was first
written down by James. "Movement" relied on dramatic contrasts and diversity of form, and drew on the
picturesque aesthetic. The first volume of the Adam brother's Works (1773) cited Kedleston Hall, designed by
Robert in 1761, as an outstanding example of movement in architecture.

By contrasting room sizes and decorative schemes, Adam applied the concept of movement to his interiors
also. His style of decoration, described by Pevsner as "Classical Rococo", drew on Roman "grotesque" stucco
decoration.

Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire (1758-77), is a high point of British neo-

classicism. The Palladian layout had already been established when the
up-and-coming Scottish architect Robert Adam was asked to take over
the project in 1760 by the owner, Sir Nathaniel Curzon. The austere,
delicate interiors, with their remarkably unified decoration, show Adam
at the height of his powers. Kedleston, the Glory of Derbyshire, was
one of the most consistently praised of all Georgian houses.

Kedleston Hall
theguardian.com

The Georgian style:

Georgian style is a style in the architecture, interior design, and decorative arts of Britain during the 17th and
18th centuries. The term “Georgian” gets its name from four kings of England who reigned in Britain from
1714-1830. All of them were named George.

Although the George did not have an impact on the style, they perpetuated a movement that is different from
the popular Italian and French Baroque style. “Georgian is a term usually associated in the popular mind with
refined furniture, elegant clothes, buildings of deceptive simplicity, classical music, decorous prose, and country
houses set in pleasing parks”

Early Georgian style was influnced by classicsm and Palladinism. Each architect or designer has his own ideas
and individual approach. However, all of them had something common: they were heavily influenced by
elements of ancient Rome and Greece. In the 17th and 18th centuries, young British aristocrats, including
architects, designers and furniture makers took the “Grand Tour” of European countries. These “Grand Tours”
made the influential classes follow classical traditions of architecture and design.

The Baroque used classical ornamentation and decor in a very open-ended way, however, the British employed
these motifs in an inflexible and calm way, if Baroque is too much, Georgian classicism is a grace.

Besides classicism, there was another style that had a very strong impact on the Georgian style, it is the
Palladian style. Palladianism was a significant factor in the early Georgian style. However, after 1950 or from
around 1760 English architects James Stuart, Sir William Chambers and Scottish architect Robert Adam were
exposed to a clearer style of classicism around Britain. They were inspired by the archaeological discoveries at
Pompei and Herculaneum. This new information about Greek and Roman architecture brought about a
neoclassical revolution in taste, this emphasises on neoclassical became widespread for design of the mid
Georgian period.

Houses were increasingly placed in grand landscaped settings, and large houses were generally made wide and
relatively shallow, and the height was usually highest in the centre.
Windows in all types of buildings were large and regularly placed on a
grid; this was partly to minimize window tax, which was in force
throughout the period in the United Kingdom. Some windows were
subsequently bricked-in. nside ornament was far more generous, and
could sometimes be overwhelming . Plasterwork ceilings, carved
wood, and bold schemes of wallpaint formed a backdrop to
increasingly rich collections of furniture, paintings, porcelain, mirrors.
Some houses, often referred to as "villas" became common around
the fringes of the larger cities, especially London, and detached
houses in towns remained common, though only the very rich could
afford them in central London.

Syon House’s Ante Room

classicaladdiction.com

St Martin in the Fields is the archetypical Georgian church by James Gibb

(23 December 1682 – 5 August 1754), who boldly added to the classical
temple façade at the west end a large steeple on top of a tower, set back
slightly from the main frontage. This formula shocked purists and
foreigners, but became accepted and was very widely copied
  Outstading architects

Sir William Chambers

Sir William Chambers (23 February 1723 – 10 March 1796) was a

Scottish-Swedish architect, based in London.

His architectural practise was in London in the 1750s. Moreover, Sir

William spent time in China, which gives an explanation why his
neoclassicism was mixed with Chinese touches and elements. The
name of the technique is known as chinoiserie, and it enjoyed
modest popularity in Britain that time. He also showed Greek and
Roman characteristics of French neoclassicism

Sir William Chamers

By Frances Cotes
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Chambers

Late Georgian style is known as Regency and was popular during the reign of the British Prince Regent from
1811 to 1820, this style is much heavier in ornamentation than earlier Georgian styles, and building facades
were often covered with stucco plaster than noticeable brick.

There are some features of Georgian style such as symmetrical form, classical entrances, glass fanlights, large
four-sided rooms, sash windows, huge exterior symmetrical stairways, internal hall stairway, pediment door
and geometric decorations. Shape is a main significant feature of this style. The square is “prominent”, and
shapes are classical. Sash windows –“panes divided by wooden bars”– were common. In addition, windows
were quadrilateral and had the same width However, their height was various from the first floor to the last
one. Second floor windows were the tallest ones, while ground floor and third floor windows were shorter, and
the windows on the top were almost four-sided. There also a window on the top of the door, and it was
separated by a structure called a transom. There was typically a hip roof, sometimes with dormers.
Styles of 19th century- Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture is a series of architectural revival styles in the mid-to-late 19th century., during the reign
of England Queen Victoria.

Victorian architecture isn't limited to one specific style. Victorian architecture is a broad term that describes the
many different styles that emerged during Victoria's 63 years as queen. There was no standard style, which
allowed architects and builders to create buildings that suited their patron's wants and wishes.

Several different styles emerged during this period such as

Jacobethan (1830–1870; the precursor to the Queen Anne
style); Renaissance Revival (1840–1890); Neo-Grec (1845–
1865); Romanesque Revival; Second Empire (1855–1880;
originated in France); Queen Anne Revival (1870–1910);
Scots Baronial (predominantly Scotland) and British Arts
and Crafts movement (1880–1910).

Balmora Castle- an example of the Scots Baronial style

by Kathi Kamleitner
watchmesee.com

Despite the various categories, there are several identifying factors that Victorian buildings share. Generally,
most Victorians can be described as dollhouse-like, with bright colors, and asymmetrical designs. Most of the
buildings were brick with large windows, balconies, fireplaces in every room, large interior staircases, and
porches.

Eastnor Caslte long library

eastnorcastle.com
  Some outstanding architecture style in Victorian era

Queen Anne

The Queen Anne style was popular from the 1870s to the early 1900s. This
style can be recognized by its asymmetrical fronts and towers. One of the
primary architects of this style was Richard Norman Shaw, who also
worked in the Arts and Crafts style of Victorian architecture, which
consequently shares many similarities with Queen Anne style. These
houses tend to be manor-like and slightly medieval with fancy
ornamentation.

Old Swan house

By Love Art Nouveau
commons.wikimedia.org
Classical/Neoclassical

Neoclassicism was born in Rome in the mid 18th century, at the time of the rediscovery of Pompeii and
Herculaneum, but its popularity spread all over Europe as a generation of European art students finished their
Grand Tour. The classical, or neoclassical style of Victorian architecture, reflects the influences of ancient Greek
and Roman architecture. These buildings are usually symmetrical with columns.

Witley Court
english-heritage.org.uk

Gothic Revival

The term “Gothic Revival” describes medieval-style buildings erected in the mid 19th century (1850s 1880s) .
John Ruskin was a prominent architect of this style. Influenced by the cathedrals of European countries such as
France, Gothic Revival was mostly used for churches and some public government buildings, such as the new
Houses of Parliament.
 Houses of Parliament or The Palace of Westminster
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster

The Arts and Crafts movement

The Arts and Crafts movement was an international

movement in the decorative and fine arts that began in
Britain and flourished in Europe and North America
between about 1880 and 1920,. It stood for traditional
craftsmanship using simple forms, and often used
medieval, romantic, or folk styles of decoration and had a
strong influence on the arts in Europe until it was displaced
by Modernism in the 1930s

A mid-19th century Arts andCrafts

movement English room decorated by William Morris
britannica.com

There are two principal characteristics distinguish 19th century architecture; the use of a variety of historical
styles and the development of new materials and structural methods.

The second characteristic emerged from the development of new materials as a result of the new industrial
needs due to Industrial Revolution between the mid 18th and mid 19th centuries. In building, new forms -
factories, warehouses, railway terminals, administrative centres, hospitals - were demanded. In the mid years
of the century, cast iron was used structurally in large buildings such as warehouses and libraries .

The Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton for the 1851 International Exhibition in London, provided a
spectacular example of the possibilities of cast iron and glass that had worldwide publicity. The new ferrous
building materials were made to conform to the taste for Classical, medieval or other exotic styles.
The Crystal Palace was a glass and cast
iron structure built in London, England,
for the Great Exhibition of 1851. The
building was designed by Sir Joseph
Paxton, an architect and gardener, and
revealed breakthroughs in architecture,
construction and design. The Building
was destroyed in 1936 due to fire

Crystal Palace
architetturaecosostenibile.it