Various architectural designs during the 18th century were based on some of the early principals that were applied to ancient Greek and Roman structures. Two highly recognized architectural structures that were based off ancient Greek and Roman formations are the Chiswick House and the Monticello estate. The Chiswick House (1725-1729) was built “for Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington, to his own designs” (Cinzia); it was also designed by William Kent. The house is located in London, England and is classified as Palladian architecture. About four decades later the Monticello estate (1769-1809) was designed by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. Monticello estate, located in Charlottesville, Virginia was based on Neoclassical principals. Although the Chiswick House and the Monticello estate reveal some differences, both architectural establishments also share many similarities.
Palladianism, the architectural style the Chiswick House represents, was a popular architectural form that emerged when “Inigo Jones, [a British architect] introduced [it] to England after visiting Italy” (“Palladianism”). It was a style based on the architectural designs of Andrea Palladio (1508-1580). Palladio revived Roman Classicism techniques, adopting symmetrical simplicity, consisting of harmonic ratios. Palladianism became revitalized in England during the 18th century, when the Chiswick House was constructed.
Likewise, Neoclassicism took place during the 18th century; it was an “architectural movement [that] looked to Greek and Roman art for models of harmony, idealized realism, and reason, and drew on Enlightenment thinking” (MindEdge 3.04). Like Palladianism in England, Neoclassical style became popular in the United States. Jefferson, an enlightened democrat who designed the Monticello estate, designed his home as a modified version of the famous Chiswick House. “By 1779 all the rooms in the original plan were built and habitable. But Jefferson’s tour as American minister to France opened up other visions of architecture from European countries. He came back with a host of new ideas and started on lengthy and costly renovations to Monticello” (Brunskill). Although Jefferson eventually modified the Palladian version of his house after adopting French Neoclassical styles after his return from France, he still stressed symmetrical balance and included classical balustrade surrounding the roof, resembling the terrace of the Chiswick House. The Monticello estate also contains numerous skylights for illumination, another luxury Jefferson adopted from French architecture. Some other common elements that Palladian and French Neoclassical architecture expose are a plane stone façade, Corinthian columns, small scaled box shaped house, classical balustrade surrounding the terrace, and symmetrical balance. Clearly the Chiswick House better represents the most common fundamentals of Palladian and French Neoclassical architectural styles.
Another important aspect that the Chiswick House and the Monticello estate have in common is they both reveal similar exterior architectural patterns, resembling the ancient Roman Pantheon (118-25 C.E.), designed by Apollodorus of Damascus—a well-built structure that surprisingly stands today. Both houses resemble the Roman Pantheon because they each contain a “central dome, triangular pediment, and columnar portico” (Benton 438). In difference, the Chiswick House and the Monticello estate reveal elevated octagonal domes that contain at least one window, whereas the ancient Roman Pantheon’s dome is circular, and does not contain any windows, but it does contain an oculus which is “the ‘eye’ or opening in the center of the ceiling…the sole source of light in the building” (Benton 108).
Although the Chiswick House and the Monticello estate were built during the same century and share similar architectural styles, they reveal many differences in appearance. The front of the Chiswick House contains six Corinthian columns, whereas the Monticello estate only contains four Doric columns; however, the columns of each design symmetrically define the windows and the front doors of their porticos. The main entrance of the Chiswick House rests over a ground level cellar; arched staircases are equally proportioned on each side of the entrance. In difference, the Monticello estate does not expose a ground level cellar under the portico, and the front entrance stairs are perfectly aligned with the four Doric columns.
The Chiswick House was constructed out of brick, local stone, and stucco. Its façade contains a Venetian window on each side of the portico. A Diocletian window (a half circle divided into three sections) is centered in front of the octagonal dome above the triangular pediment. The Chiswick House also reveals several smokestacks, four of them symmetrically spaced on each side of the main structure. In comparison, the exterior of Jefferson’s Monticello estate “has been translated into a home of brick and wood” (Benton 440). The windows on the main level are tall, including shutters, a common style in the south. Its triangular pediment contains a half-circle sunburst window perfectly centered. The octagonal dome which was constructed after Jefferson’s return from France includes a similar half-circle sunburst window also aligned with the center of the portico, with full-circle windows to each side of it. Likewise, Monticello also reveals eight smokestacks; however, they are located in various areas.
The Chiswick House and the Monticello estate are primary examples of architecture that mimic ancient Greek and Roman fundamentals. Both structures also reveal foreign adaptions of their original architectural styles and intentions. Italian and French elements can be found in Jefferson’s Monticello estate, while components of the Chiswick House can plausibly be defined as Neoclassical. These two structural gems are clearly linked to many different architectural movements throughout history. Although the Chiswick House and the Monticello estate share many obvious similarities, they also reveal some unique differences.
Works Cited
"Palladianism." Philip's Encyclopedia 2008. London: Philip's, 2008. Credo Reference. 28 Apr. 2008. Web. 27 July 2013. <http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?qurl=http://www.credoreference.com/entry/philipency/palladianism>.
Benton, Janetta Rebold, and Robert DiYanni. Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the Humanities. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008. Print.
Brunskill, Joan. "ARCHITECTURE Jefferson's Dream Realized in Monticello." Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext): 3. Jan 08 1994. ProQuest. Web. 10 Aug. 2013 .
Cinzia Maria Sicca. "Chiswick House." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 24 Jul. 2013. <http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T017278>.
MindEdge. Introduction to the Humanities II: Baroque through Modern. SNHU Blackboard, 2013. September 9, 2014.