File:Andrea Palladio, his life and works (1902) (14741591606).jpg

Identifier: andreapalladioh00flet (find matches)
Title: Andrea Palladio, his life and works
Year: 1902 (1900s)
Authors: Fletcher, Banister, Sir, 1866-1953
Subjects: Palladio, Andrea, 1508-1580
Publisher: London, G. Bell and Sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ably placed porticoes to each of its four faces. It has acentral hall, 40 feet in diameter, carried the whole heightof the building, which was to receive its light by means ofcircular windows in the dome. The hall has a projectinggallery at the first floor level. Four angular staircases bringthe central portion to a square, around which are placed theliving apartments. On each of its four facades is an Ioniccolonnade projecting about 14 feet and having an internalwidth of about 34 feet. The basement, containing the kitchen,etc., extends under the whole of the house, for the useand conveniency of the family, as Palladio quaintly puts it.The ground floor is raised some 11 feet 6 inches by meansof wide flights of steps, giving access to each portico. Fora sunny climate the Rotonda is undoubtedly a very excellentand suitable design, the central hall forming a convenientretreat from the heat of the summer sun, while the project-ing porticoes are so placed as to catch every available ray of
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COUNTRY HOUSES 63 sunshine if so desired, meanwhile also protecting the houseproper by means of their deep shadow. The bedrooms, however suitable for the period andcountry, would undoubtedly be dark and inappropriate inEngland, as also the passages leading from the central hallto each portico. Inigo Joness remarks on this house are not of greatinterest. He remarks that it stands very solid and firm,and that a great sum of money must have been spent inthe building of this house and especially for the terraces.In his time the lanthorn at the top of the cupola is not seton, but a net to cover the top hole to keep out the flies ;also that the tyling does not look well, considering therichness of the statues and the beauty of the building. Itis to be presumed that a lead-covered roof would have beenpreferable (see Plate 28). In spite of these drawbacks, this design has exercised anextraordinary fascination for European architects, who haveimitated it again and again. The first imitation in

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