American Architectural History - Palladian

Palladian - Civic

Redwood Library

Newport, RI

Peter Harrison, 1742

The Redwood Library marked the introduction of Palladian architecture to America. It featured such Palladian characteristics as:

  • rusticated panels emulating stone appropriate to earlier model

  • columns and pediment, although familiar today, they were quite daring and novel in their time

  • natural light -- an essential design of 18th and 19th century structures

The initial design of the Redwood Library was based on Palladio Villa in Quattro Libri (English ed: 1726). The building has expanded throughout it's lifetime in a series of additions. 

Architectural HistoryRoss Cann