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American Architecture: The Italianate Style

© John J. Pascarella

The Italianate style of American architecture is another American original, despite it's name. Most buildings of this style were built between 1840 and the 1870's. Although it's popularity spanned roughly 40 years, by the 1860's, the Italianate had become the leading architectural style in America. By the time homebuilding picked up following the Civil War economic downturn, architectural tastes had turned to Late Victorian styles, such as Queen Anne and the early Colonial Revival.

The Itanianate style falls into three categories: Villas, which were meant to recall the farmhouses of the Italian countryside; Renaissance Revival, which is more formal and was often used on public buildings of the day; and the Italianate, which covered everything else.

Known as a vernacular style of architecture, it was easily adaptable to many different types of building materials and a wide variety of building budgets.

How to Spot an Italianate Home

There are many features that identify Italianate homes. The most easily spotted feature of Italianate architecture is the deep set eaves with many brackets seeming to hold the eaves up. Other details include round-topped windows and doors. Some include a tower or cupola in the design and many sported porches topped by balustraded balconies. You will find examples of Italianate homes built of wood, brick, brownstone, even stucco.

Sometimes homes may sport only one of the architectural elements, such as just a side bay or a round-topped window. These would be examples of the common, simplicity of the rural Italianate.

No matter where you are in America, you will be able to find an example of Italianate architecture, thanks to it being the most popular architectural style of the years prior to the American Civil War.

Until next time, In Bocca Al Lupo!

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