Baroque and Beyond C. 1600–1850Neoclassical Art |
What are some significant examples of eighteenth-century neoclassical architecture? |
- Chiswick House—Designed and built between 1724 and 1729 by Robert Boyle, the Third Earl of Burlington in West London, England. Greatly inspired by the architect Palladio and his Villa Rotunda, Chiswick House features an octagonal dome and a large but simple portico with an empty pediment. The overall style is restrained, flat, and symmetrical.
- Pulteney Bridge—Designed by celebrated Scottish architect, Robert Adam (1728–1792), who also designed great buildings such as the Edinburgh City Chambers and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Scotland. The unique, Palladian style Pulteney Bridge (completed in 1773) crosses the River Avon in Bath, England, and is lined with shops.
American forefather Thomas Jefferson believed in the power of architecture to help establish a unified sense of American identity and democratic idealism. As an architect, he was inspired by classical architecture and infused classical elements into his projects, including his personal home, Monticello.
- Théâtre de l’Odéon—Originally called the Théâtre Français, this austere neoclassical building was designed by Marie-Joseph Peyre between 1767 to 1770. Almost completely void of decoration, the portico features columns of the simplest Tuscan Order and has no pediment. The building emphasizes its horizon-tality and geometric symmetry.
- Monticello—Designed by Virginia statements and author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, as his private residence in Charlottesville between 1769 and 1782, with later redesigns between 1796 and 1908. Jefferson was interested in developing a uniquely American style of architecture that would promote patriotism and help to form the new country’s national identity.