Inspired by Italian villas and country homes, the Italianate style departs from the formality of the Greek Revival.  The style is distinguished by the heavy use of ornamental brackets under wide cornices and under door and window hoods.

First appearing in the United States in the 1830's, pattern books published by Andrew Jackson Downing greatly influenced the spread of the style.  Downing's books, Cottage Residences and The Architecture of Country Houses, helped popularize so-called Picturesque styles such as the Italianate through images, plans and details.  The style dominated American house construction from 1850 through 1880.

New technology and machines also helped the style flourish.  Scroll saws, jig saws and molding machines, all products of the Industrial Revolution, allowed the mass production and easy availablity of details, such as ornamental brackets.  It was not uncommon to find earlier style buildings which were "modernized" during the mid-19th century with Italianate details due to their ready availablity and relative inexpense.

The first appearance of the style in Lowell occured with residential construction in the Washington Square Historic District in the early 1840's.  Other residential examples can be found in the Andover Street, Belvidere Hill, South Common, Wannalancit Street and Wilder Street Historic Districts.

Italianate commercial buildings are easy to identify because, like residential buildings in this style, the feature decorative, scrolled brackets and deep projecting roof cornices.  Other details typicall found on Italianate commercial buildings are projecting window caps and sills of either brick, stone or wood.  Several examples can be found throughout the Downtown Lowell Historic District.

Identifying Features of the Italianate Style:

• Low pitched roof with widely overhanging eaves and decorative brackets
• Tall, narrow windows that are often arched or curved above
• Some residences include a square cupola or tower

As you explore Lowell's historic places, pleas note that many are privately owned.  Please respect the rights of property owners by not trespassing and remaining on public property as you view the community's many historic resources.