During the pontificate of Leo X. architecture, sculp ture, and painting, were greatly encouraged. Andrea Palladio, born at Vicenza 1508 ; Sebastian Serlio, who flourished in Lombardy about 1530 ; and Vicenza Sea mozzi, born at Vicenza in 1552, all cultivated the ancient style with great success ; more especially Palladio, whose unwearied and faithful labours in examining the remains of ancient structures, combined with the taste and skill with which he transfused their style into the numerous edifices for which he was architect, and his able treatise published in 1570, have obtained for him the title of the restorer of Roman architecture. The reputation which he early acquired, afforded numerous opportunities of constructing works of various descriptions, and of great magnificence. Of these, the theatre at Vicenza, and the Villa Capra, or Rotunda, (sec Plate CLXXVII.) are fine specimens of his genius and skill, and justify his title to the appellation of the Raphael of Italian architects.
France was not hasty in adopting the Roman manner as revived in Italy. It was not till the 17th century, that St Louis de la Rue St Antoine was constructed from a design executed at Rome by Vignola, the front and cu pola of the Invalids by Alansart, and St Genevieve, (now the pantheon,) with its magnificent portico, by Soulllet, are reckoned the best specimens. The south-east front of the old Louvre by Claude Perrault, consisting of a colonnade of the Corinthian order 400 feet in length, pos sesses great simplicity, and produces a noble effect. The gallery of the Thuilleries 1300 feet in length, is uncom mon and striking. The observatory is grand and im posing; and the fountain Grencllc is very beautiful. The palace at Versailles is more remarkable for its magni tude than good taste ; there is a great monotony in it, and the ornaments are trifling and crowded, The British museum, built upon the model of French palaces, by Monsieur Pouget, is an evidence, that the roof is much too predominating a feature. See Plate CLXXXI.
In Germany, this Roman style made no progress. Even at Vienna, in the church of St Charles Borromeo, the best work of John Bernard Fischers, there is little merit. In the church of the imperial convent at i\Iolck in Austria, he has been more successful. See Dallaway, Observe.
Towards the middle of the 16th century, and near the close of the reign of Henry the VIII. Holbein introduc ed Roman architecture into England ; but his labours did not extend beyond porticos and portals. St James's pa lace in Westminster, opposite to Whitehall, and Wilton house, contained specimens of his works.
After him, John of Padua built the palace of the Protector Somerset on the bank of the river Thames, between the cities of London and Westminster. He also built Longleat in Wiltshire, wherein are introduced the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders, immediately over each other, which formed a very regular and magnificent edifice, (See Plate CLXXVIII.) But it was not until the beginning of the 17th century, that the practice of this style was completely established by Inigo Jones. He was born in London in 1572, and having early shewn a strong disposition for drawing, he was, by the munifi cence of the Earl of Pembroke, enabled to travel through Italy. Here the remains of ancient edifices, the magnificent works of modern; architecture at Rome, but above all those of Palladio, afforded a field for study, upon which he entered with ardour, and benefited to such a degree, as to enable him to become the Palladio of his native country. From Rome he went to Denmark, at the request of Christian IV. where he was found by James I. and was brought over to Scotland by Queen Anne. Here he altered and improved the old palace of Holyrood House, and afterwards gave designs for Heriot's hospital, and probably the pariiament house. In 1612 he returned to Italy, and finished his studies. Of his early and least classical style, the inner quadrangle of St John's college, Oxford, is a specimen. Here the arches rest immediately upon the capitals of the columns. There are busts between the arches, and heavy wreaths of foliage in the alcoves. But he afterwards composed, with simplicity and great classical elegance, the ban queting house Whitehall, Greenwich Hospital, Sur geon's Hall, and Covent Garden church. Besides these public works, Wilton house, the south and east side of Castle Ashley, Lord Radnor's at Colesliill in Berkshire, and Stoke Park in Northamptonshire, are known to be his. But his practice having been very extensive, many other edifices are in part his, and formed upon his mo dels. So that, besides the classical elegance which he introduced into public buildings, we are equally indebted to him for the convenience and comfort enjoyed in the private dwellings which he planned.
Next in succession to Inigo Jones, is Sir Christopher Wren. He was eminently possessed of the qualifications requisite for a perfect architect ; his education was li beral ; he was one of the first geometricians of the age in which he lived ; he had a disposition for mechanics; he possessed a dispassionate but persevering temper, and had a fine taste.