Mid 19th Century Italianate Architecture
Reminiscent of Italian Villas, the Picturesque Home is Quite a Sight
Italianate homes are reminiscent of their Italian Villa roots, mixed with Victorian influence, with an added Italian twist. Occasionally, the Italianate is referred to as a bracketed style home, a Tuscan home, or a Lombard home. Any of these terms refer to the same general style of architecture, so do not be fooled by the different names.
History of the Italianate
Dominating America during the 1840s and into the mid 1880s, it should be noted that the homes of the Renaissance Revival period are not the same as the Italianate. However, the styles of architecture are quite often confused with one another; for example, they are thought to be a more lavish version of the colonial, but are not colonial in any way.
Style of Architecture
According to About.com's Jackie Craven, the Italianate home is "balanced [with a] symmetrical, rectangular shape" with a pitched roof. She also notes that they have a "tall appearance," generally two stories or more with "tall, narrow, double-paned windows with hood moldings." These homes also feature "wide, overhanging eaves with brackets and cornices, [a] square cupola, [and a] porch topped with balustraded balconies."
It is estimated that nearly 15 percent of the Italianate homes in the United States also include a tower. In addition to this, this style of architecture also adds in a bit of historical roman design with arches above both the windows and doors, making it very traditional for the period.
Origins of Italianate Style
Surprisingly, the Italianate style originated in England as early as 1802, rather than from Italy. This particular style of architecture was a rebuttal to traditional English style homes that were overly formal in nature. Italianate architecture is considered to be part of the Picturesque movement during the latter half of the 1800s. By the time it hit American soil, the Italianate had evolved and quickly rose to become one of the most popular styles of architecture in the late 1860s.
Depending on various sources, some say that the original roots of the Italianate can be traced as far back as the late 1500s. Some argue that the Italianate is an adaption of a Italian villa - just more lavish in appearance. Others claim it is a design uniquely it's own with no inspirational source whatsoever. Either way, the Italianate claimed the hearts of Americans all across the country.
Mid 19th Century American Architecture
The Italianate was popular in America because it was a home that was lavish in style, but could be built on nearly any budget. Due to new technologies of the time, it was fairly easy to quickly and affordably mass produce decorations for these homes. This greatly added to the availability of the home's style, thus making it a popular home choice for Americans.
Sources:
About.com/Jackie Craven; "1840-1885: Italianate"
OldHouseWeb.com; "Italianate, 1850-1890"
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