When driving around the rural Midwest, the landscape is dominated by the Italianate. With its tall, narrow windows, low-hipped roofs, and heavily decorated eaves and porches, the Italianate is one of the most recognizable architectural styles in the United States. The style began in England in the early 19th century as part of the Picturesque movement, which arose as a reaction against the rigid symmetry and formality of classicism. Advocating for irregularity, variety, and the integration of buildings with their natural surroundings, the Picturesque movement sought to create a more organic and romantic connection between architecture and nature. At its core, the Italianate style draws inspiration from the informal, rustic charm of rural Italian villas. During its zenith in the United States between 1850 and 1880, the style underwent modifications and embellishments, moving away from its original Italian inspiration to become a distinctly American architectural expression.
The Italianate style became popular in both urban and rural settings and was adapted for everything from modest homes to grand country estates. There are two main hallmarks of the style that make it easy to identify. First, tall and narrow windows topped with crowns, pediments, or arches are almost always present. Second, the eaves (the edges of a roof that extend beyond the walls) in Italianate structures have wide overhangs and are embellished with decorative cornices and brackets.
Other key features of the style include low-pitched roofs and wooden or iron porches with elaborate details. Italianate structures are almost always two or three stories tall, with rare single-story examples found in some areas. In more ornate cases, Italianate-style homes can include towers and cupolas.
The style was also commonly used for commercial buildings. In fact, it is one of the most recognizable styles in the thousands of late 19th-century downtown business districts throughout the United States. If you visit a historic Main Street in any Midwestern town, you are almost guaranteed to see the Italianate style.
