Neo-Palladian Architecture and the Construction of Britishness in An Epistle to Burlington
Neo-Palladian Architecture and the Construction of Britishness in An Epistle to Burlington

Summary/Abstract: In Alexander Pope’s An Epistle to Burlington (1731), Burlington is regarded as a British virtuoso whose neo-Palladian country house epitomises moderation, practicality and elegance. The simple but elegant structure of Burlington’s house, which is in harmony with the cultivated natural world, becomes an emblem of British artistic taste. Furthermore, Burlington’s house and garden are not decorative but have a functional role in the British moral agrarian economy, which is based on the reciprocal relationship between the landlord and his labourers. His house also embodies the classical virtues espoused by the Protestant Whigs, suggesting liberty, tolerance and democracy against tyranny and hegemony, which are related to French rule. This study examines Alexander Pope’s An Epistle to Burlington to show that Burlington’s neo-Palladian country house becomes a political agent in the construction and promotion of Britishness, revaluing the virtues of the classical heritage and embracing the legacy of pre-industrial, feudal British culture.

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