Analyzing the Architectural Finishes at Ivy Lodge: Examining the Influence of A.J. Downing

Esteemed American horticulturist and author of The Architecture of Country Houses, A.J. Downing played a pivotal role in the emergence of the American Picturesque movement of the mid-nineteenth century. His ideals are expressed in the minutiae of material usage and finishes as well as in the pattern books that resulted from his influence. Over time, his work has shaped scholars’ understanding of architectural color of the period. However, empirical understanding of architectural paint color of this movement is limited to few unpublished paint studies, most of which are no longer available. In an effort to expand the knowledge of color of this period and to test assumptions about Downing’s actual influence, this paper examines the finishes of Ivy Lodge, the important 19th-century Italianate villa in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood built by prominent Philadelphian and proponent of the Picturesque, John Jay Smith. Using cross-sectional microscopy and polarizing light microscopy to analyze paint sample, the paper illuminates the chosen color palette and offers perspective on the actual influence of pattern books in general and Downing’s specific prescriptions for color during the American Picturesque Movement.