The foundations for the Victorian House were first laid in Great Britain before Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837. Domestic Architecture had become the expression of Victorian Britain's structure. Now the Victorian House not only reflected the social standing of its occupant but the position he wished to attain.
By the early 19th century the Neo-classical, Greek and Roman styles that were inherited from the 18th century were already losing popularity. Queen Victoria admired Italian Renaissance style and chose that style for her Osborn House.
By the middle of the 19th century most country house aspirants favored such styles as English Gothic and Elizabethan. Other styles were Old English, French, Italian, Medieval, Belgian and German.
Americans were enamored with Greek Revival structures and homes because of its associations with democracy. Most public buildings had pediments, columned porticoes and friezes.
It did not take long for the Gothic Revival design to become popular; a design from England. Among the many of the Gothic Style architects of that day were Alexander Jackson Davis and Andrew Jackson Downing. Many Gothic houses featured diamond-paned bay windows, tall thin chimneys, scroll trim, now what has coined the term "gingerbread house". The Downing houses were distinguished by steep roof slopes, balconies, porches, and gabled windows.
From the mid 1800's - 1885 the Italianate, inspired by the Renaissance structures, flourished. Its characteristics were marked by a square cupola, tower surmounting a low pitched roof, wide eaves, decorative and intricate carved brackets below, tall narrow windows with U shaped hood molds. These homes were generally squared or rectangular.
French Second Empire is known for its steeped mansard roof, sometimes with concave curved planes. This decorative style featured elaborate door and window surrounds, iron casting above bracketed eaves along the roof line, one or two story porches with balustrades above or below. This style became so popular after the Civil War that it became known as the General Grant style, in America.
The Queen Anne Revival was the epitome of the eclectic Victorian styles. Many of the asymmetrical Queen Anne houses were built in the Shingle style, which was popular in Resort structures. These houses featured deeply recessed arched entryways, shingled or stonework piers for porch supports, high pitched multilevel roofs, towers, and much ornamental spool work.
This is but a few of the styles that were popular. There were other revivals throughout America as well. But the ones listed were the most popular and left the grandest impression on what Victorian Architecture really was all about.~~~Lana
