England emerged from the wars of the early eighteenth century as a world power, her colonies and dominions vastly extended. During this period, a reaction to the excesses of the Baroque led to the adoption of a new style of architecture and interior decoration. Inspired by the proportional classicism of the great Italian architect Andrea Palladio, designers such as Lord Burlington, Colen Campbell and William Kent created a new architectural style: Palladianism. The style was to revolutionize town and country house design throughout Britain and North America during the eighteenth century. This book explores the emergence of the style in the design of English Palladian villas, such as Marble Hill and Stourhead, and traces its influence on the average home, through the pattern books written by James Gibbs, Robert Morris and their prolific successors Batty Langley and the Halfpenny brothers. Focusing on the typical Palladian house between 1715 and 1755, the author looks at how Palladian in