Mouldings by Andrea Palladio

Born Andrea di Pietro della Gondola in 1508, Andrea Palladio is regarded as the greatest architect of 16th-century Italy and one of the most influential figures in Western architecture.

While working as a stone mason, he was found by Gian Giorgio Trissino, the humanist poet and scholar, who was building a villa meant to house a learned academy based on the work of the Roman architect, Vitruvius. Tressino undertook Andrea’s humanist education and renamed him “Palladio” alluding to great wisdom and useful arts, ultimately inspiring him to write Il Quatro Libri del Architectura, Palladio’s Four Books of Architecture.

He measured and drew the ancient ruins in Rome, was inspired by Sansovino and Serlio, and designed and built what many consider the most perfect modern expressions of the classical architectural language. His judicious use of molded profiles was carefully considered, enhancing the overall aesthetic of a building without overpowering and detracting from its beauty, strength, and functionality.

For further reading about Andrea Palladio architecture, we recommend "The Buildings and Designs of Andrea Palladio" by Ottavio Bertotti Scamozzi, published by Princeton Architectural Press, (2015).