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Jeffersonian architecture

February 15, 2024

Jeffersonian architecture is an American form of Neo-Classicism and/or Neo-Palladianism embodied in the architectural designs of U.S. President and polymath Thomas Jefferson, after whom it is named. These include his home (Monticello), his retreat (Poplar Forest), the university he founded (University of Virginia), and his designs for the homes of friends and political allies (notably Barboursville). More than a dozen private homes bearing his personal stamp still stand today. Jefferson's style was popular in the early American period at about the same time that the more mainstream Greek Revival architecture was also coming into vogue (1790s–1830s) with his assistance.

Jefferson's sketch plan for the Rotunda at the University of Virginia
The Rotunda in 2006

Sources and inspiration edit

In colonial Virginia during the 18th century there were no schools of architecture, so Jefferson learned the profession on his own from books and by studying some of the classical architectural designs of the day. As a self-taught architect and classicist, he was most influenced by the Italian revivalist architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). His "bible" was Andrea Palladio's The Four Books of Architecture, which taught him the basic principles of classical design.[1][2] Jeffersonian architecture is therefore perhaps best described as "Palladian" in inspiration.[3]

Jefferson was also influenced by architect James Gibbs (1682–1754), and by French Neo-classical buildings, such as the Hôtel de Salm in Paris, when he served as Ambassador to France. While the Jeffersonian style incorporates Palladian proportions and themes, it is at the same time unique to Jefferson's own personal sensibility and the materials available to him in early republican Virginia.[3][4]

Throughout his adult life Jefferson made many architectural drawings and wrote extensively about architectural design. Today there are over 600 pages of architectural documents by Jefferson now housed at the Massachusetts Historical Society and are commonly referred to as the Coolidge Collection.[5]

Characteristics edit

 
Poplar Forest, note the octagonal design

One characteristic which typifies Jefferson's architecture is the use of the octagon and octagonal forms in his designs. Palladio never used octagons, but Jefferson employed them as a design motif—halving them, elongating them, and employing them in whole as with the dome of Monticello, or the entire house at Poplar Forest.

Jeffersonian architectural attributes edit

  • Palladian design (e.g., central core, symmetrical wings)[6]
  • Portico-and-pediment primary entries
  • Classical orders and moldings (especially Tuscan)
  • Piano nobile (main floor elevated above ground level)
  • Red brick construction
  • White painted trim
  • Sand-painted columns
  • Octagons and octagonal forms
  • Chinese railings
  • "Suppressed" (hidden) stairs, instead of grand stairways

Monticello edit

Main article: Monticello
 
Monticello

Located just outside Charlottesville, Jefferson's Virginia home and estate is situated on the summit of an 850-foot (260 m)-high peak in the Southwest Mountains. Its name comes from the Italian for "little mountain." Jefferson began work on his original “Monticello” in 1768. He left his home in 1784 to serve as Minister of the United States to France. During his tenure in Europe, he had an opportunity to see some of the classical buildings with which he had become acquainted from his reading, as well as to discover the "modern" trends in French architecture that were then fashionable in Paris. His decision to remodel his own home may date from this period. In 1794, following his service as the first U.S. Secretary of State (1790–1793), Jefferson began rebuilding his manor house based on the ideas he had acquired in Europe. The remodeling continued throughout most of his presidency (1801–1809).

Jefferson added a center hallway and a parallel set of rooms to the structure, more than doubling its area. He removed the second full-height story from the original house and replaced it with a mezzanine bedroom floor. The most dramatic element of the new design was an octagonal dome, which he placed above the West front of the building in place of a second-story portico. The room inside the dome was described by a visitor as "a noble and beautiful apartment," but it was rarely used—perhaps because it was hot in summer and cold in winter, or because it could only be reached by climbing a steep and narrow flight of stairs. The dome room has now been restored to its appearance during Jefferson's lifetime, with "Mars yellow" walls and a painted green floor, although safety regulations about use of the narrow stairs to the upper floors largely preclude visitors to Monticello from seeing the room.[7]

Monticello, along with the nearby University of Virginia, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Influence edit

Further information: Neoclassical architecture
Influence of the Lawn
 
Jefferson's "Academical Village", University of Virginia (1856 engraving)
 
The Grand Auditorium at the Tsinghua University

In 1803, President Jefferson appointed Benjamin Henry Latrobe as surveyor of public buildings in the United States, thus introducing Greek Revival architecture to the country for the first time. Latrobe went on to design a number of important public buildings in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, including work on the United States Capitol and the Bank of Pennsylvania.[8]

Even after Jefferson's style went out of vogue for other public buildings, it continued to have an influence on many Protestant church designs on the East Coast through the mid-20th century. The style is still employed on some Southern college campuses, particularly in Virginia and the Peabody College campus of Vanderbilt University, and it has enjoyed a certain re-emergence among some newer 21st century evangelical church complexes.

The University of Mary Washington, previously the University of Virginia's college for women, is another primary example of Jefferson's architecture.

An example of Jeffersonian architecture outside the United States can be found in one of China's top universities, Tsinghua University in Beijing. The University's "Grand Auditorium" was designed with elements from the Jeffersonian architectural style in the early 20th century.

List of Jeffersonian buildings edit

 
Pavilions III and V, The Lawn, University of Virginia
 
The Virginia State Capitol in 1865
 
The University of Alabama Quad (rear view) in 1859; everything visible was burned in Wilson's Raid (1865) and never rebuilt.

Designed by Jefferson:

Directly influenced by Jefferson:

Indirectly influenced by Jefferson:

Gallery edit

  •  
    Under the dome at Monticello

References edit

  1. ^ Brodie, 1974, pp.87-88
  2. ^ Berstein, 2003, p. 9
  3. ^ a b "Dig Deeper - Building Monticello". Thomas Jefferson Foundation. Retrieved Aug 22, 2013.
  4. ^ Kern, Chris. "Jefferson's Dome at Monticello". Retrieved 2009-07-16.
  5. ^ Jefferson Architectural Drawings, Massachusetts Historical Society
  6. ^ The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson by Ralph G. Giordano (McFarland; 2012)
  7. ^ Kern, Chris. "Jefferson's Dome at Monticello". Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  8. ^ Federal Writers' Project (1937), Washington, City and Capital: Federal Writers' Project, Works Progress Administration / United States Government Printing Office, p. 126

Bibliography edit

  • Bernstein, Richard B. (2005) [2003]. Thomas Jefferson.
    Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-518130-2.
  • Brodie, Fawn (1974). Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History.
    W. W. Norton & Company. p. 594.     Url
  • Wills, Garry (2002). Mr. Jefferson's University. Washington, DC:
    National Geographic Directions. ISBN 0792265319.     (Describes the campus building by building.)
  • The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson by Ralph G. Giordano (McFarland 2012)

Other sources edit

  • "Thomas Jefferson Papers: Architectural Drawings, [manuscript], circa 1772-1819".
    Massachusetts Historical Society. Retrieved Aug 30, 2013.

Further reading edit

  • Wills, Chuck (2008). Thomas Jefferson: Architect: The Interactive Portfolio.
    Running Press; First Edition. p. 92. ISBN 978-0762434381.     Book

External links edit

  • Jefferson's Dome at Monticello

February 15, 2024
jeffersonian, architecture, american, form, classicism, palladianism, embodied, architectural, designs, president, polymath, thomas, jefferson, after, whom, named, these, include, home, monticello, retreat, poplar, forest, university, founded, university, virg. Jeffersonian architecture is an American form of Neo Classicism and or Neo Palladianism embodied in the architectural designs of U S President and polymath Thomas Jefferson after whom it is named These include his home Monticello his retreat Poplar Forest the university he founded University of Virginia and his designs for the homes of friends and political allies notably Barboursville More than a dozen private homes bearing his personal stamp still stand today Jefferson s style was popular in the early American period at about the same time that the more mainstream Greek Revival architecture was also coming into vogue 1790s 1830s with his assistance Jefferson s sketch plan for the Rotunda at the University of VirginiaThe Rotunda in 2006 Contents 1 Sources and inspiration 2 Characteristics 2 1 Jeffersonian architectural attributes 3 Monticello 4 Influence 5 List of Jeffersonian buildings 6 Gallery 7 References 8 Bibliography 8 1 Other sources 8 2 Further reading 9 External linksSources and inspiration editIn colonial Virginia during the 18th century there were no schools of architecture so Jefferson learned the profession on his own from books and by studying some of the classical architectural designs of the day As a self taught architect and classicist he was most influenced by the Italian revivalist architect Andrea Palladio 1508 1580 His bible was Andrea Palladio s The Four Books of Architecture which taught him the basic principles of classical design 1 2 Jeffersonian architecture is therefore perhaps best described as Palladian in inspiration 3 Jefferson was also influenced by architect James Gibbs 1682 1754 and by French Neo classical buildings such as the Hotel de Salm in Paris when he served as Ambassador to France While the Jeffersonian style incorporates Palladian proportions and themes it is at the same time unique to Jefferson s own personal sensibility and the materials available to him in early republican Virginia 3 4 Throughout his adult life Jefferson made many architectural drawings and wrote extensively about architectural design Today there are over 600 pages of architectural documents by Jefferson now housed at the Massachusetts Historical Society and are commonly referred to as the Coolidge Collection 5 Characteristics edit nbsp Poplar Forest note the octagonal designOne characteristic which typifies Jefferson s architecture is the use of the octagon and octagonal forms in his designs Palladio never used octagons but Jefferson employed them as a design motif halving them elongating them and employing them in whole as with the dome of Monticello or the entire house at Poplar Forest Jeffersonian architectural attributes edit Palladian design e g central core symmetrical wings 6 Portico and pediment primary entries Classical orders and moldings especially Tuscan Piano nobile main floor elevated above ground level Red brick construction White painted trim Sand painted columns Octagons and octagonal forms Chinese railings Suppressed hidden stairs instead of grand stairwaysMonticello editMain article Monticello nbsp MonticelloLocated just outside Charlottesville Jefferson s Virginia home and estate is situated on the summit of an 850 foot 260 m high peak in the Southwest Mountains Its name comes from the Italian for little mountain Jefferson began work on his original Monticello in 1768 He left his home in 1784 to serve as Minister of the United States to France During his tenure in Europe he had an opportunity to see some of the classical buildings with which he had become acquainted from his reading as well as to discover the modern trends in French architecture that were then fashionable in Paris His decision to remodel his own home may date from this period In 1794 following his service as the first U S Secretary of State 1790 1793 Jefferson began rebuilding his manor house based on the ideas he had acquired in Europe The remodeling continued throughout most of his presidency 1801 1809 Jefferson added a center hallway and a parallel set of rooms to the structure more than doubling its area He removed the second full height story from the original house and replaced it with a mezzanine bedroom floor The most dramatic element of the new design was an octagonal dome which he placed above the West front of the building in place of a second story portico The room inside the dome was described by a visitor as a noble and beautiful apartment but it was rarely used perhaps because it was hot in summer and cold in winter or because it could only be reached by climbing a steep and narrow flight of stairs The dome room has now been restored to its appearance during Jefferson s lifetime with Mars yellow walls and a painted green floor although safety regulations about use of the narrow stairs to the upper floors largely preclude visitors to Monticello from seeing the room 7 Monticello along with the nearby University of Virginia was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 Influence editFurther information Neoclassical architecture Influence of the Lawn nbsp Jefferson s Academical Village University of Virginia 1856 engraving nbsp The Grand Auditorium at the Tsinghua University In 1803 President Jefferson appointed Benjamin Henry Latrobe as surveyor of public buildings in the United States thus introducing Greek Revival architecture to the country for the first time Latrobe went on to design a number of important public buildings in Washington D C and Philadelphia including work on the United States Capitol and the Bank of Pennsylvania 8 Even after Jefferson s style went out of vogue for other public buildings it continued to have an influence on many Protestant church designs on the East Coast through the mid 20th century The style is still employed on some Southern college campuses particularly in Virginia and the Peabody College campus of Vanderbilt University and it has enjoyed a certain re emergence among some newer 21st century evangelical church complexes The University of Mary Washington previously the University of Virginia s college for women is another primary example of Jefferson s architecture An example of Jeffersonian architecture outside the United States can be found in one of China s top universities Tsinghua University in Beijing The University s Grand Auditorium was designed with elements from the Jeffersonian architectural style in the early 20th century List of Jeffersonian buildings editThis list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items May 2010 nbsp Pavilions III and V The Lawn University of Virginia nbsp The Virginia State Capitol in 1865 nbsp The University of Alabama Quad rear view in 1859 everything visible was burned in Wilson s Raid 1865 and never rebuilt Designed by Jefferson Monticello I 1768 1784 demolished Monticello 1794 1805 Poplar Forest 1806 1826 The Lawn or Academical Village 1817 University of Virginia Farmington Country Club Main Portico Jefferson Room Barboursville completed c 1822 ruins The Rotunda University of Virginia 1822 1826 burnt 1895 rebuilt 1898 1899 Jail Nelson County Courthouse grounds site is present day Sheriff s Offices Botetourt County Courthouse Fincastle Virginia Originally completed in 1848 using plans drawn by Jefferson Damaged by a fire and rebuilt in 1970 Buckingham County Courthouse Buckingham Virginia Original building designed by Jefferson in 1824 Destroyed by fire in 1869 Directly influenced by Jefferson Manor house Lower Brandon Plantation 1760s possibly designed by Jefferson Virginia State House completed 1788 design partially credited to Jefferson Manor house Belle Grove Plantation 1794 1797 consultation by Jefferson Manor house Bremo Plantation 1819 consultation by Jefferson Indirectly influenced by Jefferson The old University of Alabama Quad Tuscaloosa Alabama 1828 destroyed 1865 Belle Mont Tuscumbia Alabama 1828 Ruffner Hall Longwood University 1907 destroyed 2001 rebuilt 2005 Various buildings University of Mary Washington post 1908 Grand Auditorium Tsinghua University Beijing China 1917 Peabody College Vanderbilt University Nashville Tennessee 1875 Thomas Jefferson Memorial Washington D C 1939 1943 Grawemeyer Hall University of Louisville Louisville Kentucky 1926 Dallas Hall Southern Methodist University Dallas Texas 1912 Various buildings Christopher Newport University Newport News Virginia post 2006 Gallery edit nbsp Under the dome at MonticelloReferences edit Brodie 1974 pp 87 88 Berstein 2003 p 9 a b Dig Deeper Building Monticello Thomas Jefferson Foundation Retrieved Aug 22 2013 Kern Chris Jefferson s Dome at Monticello Retrieved 2009 07 16 Jefferson Architectural Drawings Massachusetts Historical Society The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson by Ralph G Giordano McFarland 2012 Kern Chris Jefferson s Dome at Monticello Retrieved 2009 07 10 Federal Writers Project 1937 Washington City and Capital Federal Writers Project Works Progress Administration United States Government Printing Office p 126Bibliography editBernstein Richard B 2005 2003 Thomas Jefferson Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 518130 2 Brodie Fawn 1974 Thomas Jefferson An Intimate History W W Norton amp Company p 594 Url Wills Garry 2002 Mr Jefferson s University Washington DC National Geographic Directions ISBN 0792265319 Describes the campus building by building The Architectural Ideology of Thomas Jefferson by Ralph G Giordano McFarland 2012 Other sources edit Thomas Jefferson Papers Architectural Drawings manuscript circa 1772 1819 Massachusetts Historical Society Retrieved Aug 30 2013 Further reading edit Wills Chuck 2008 Thomas Jefferson Architect The Interactive Portfolio Running Press First Edition p 92 ISBN 978 0762434381 BookExternal links editJefferson s Dome at Monticello Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jeffersonian architecture amp oldid 1176333943, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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