IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 407 

Commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Italian architect Andrea 

Palladio. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 31, 2008 

Mr. PASCRELL (for himself, Mr. MICA, Mr. COBLE, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. SAXTON, 

Mr. PALLONE, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. HARE, Mr. LYNCH, 

Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. ARCURI, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. ALTMIRE, Mr. 

DOYLE, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. 

NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. 

GUTIERREZ, Mr. HOLT, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, and Ms. 

DELAURO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Italian 

architect Andrea Palladio. 

Whereas 2008 is the 500th anniversary of the birth of the 

Italian architect Andrea Palladio; 

Whereas Andrea Palladio was born Andrea di Pietro in 

Padua on November 30, 1508; 

Whereas Palladio, born of humble origins, apprenticed as a 

stonemason in his early life; 


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Whereas under the patronage of Count Giangiorgio Trissino 

(1478–1550), in his midtwenties Palladio studied architecture, engineering, topography, and military science; 

Whereas in 1540 Count Trissino renamed him ‘‘Palladio’’, a 

reference to the wisdom of Pallas Athena, as well as the 

Italian form of the name of the Roman writer of the 

fourth century, Rutilius Taurus Aemilianus Palladius; 

Whereas Palladio’s designs for public works, churches, mansions, and villas rank among the most outstanding architectural achievements of the Italian Renaissance; 

Whereas Palladio’s surviving buildings are collectively included in the UNESCO World Heritage List; 

Whereas Palladio’s treatise, ‘‘The Four Books of Architecture’’, ranks as the most influential publication on architecture ever produced and has shaped much of the architectural image of Western civilization; 

Whereas ‘‘The Four Books’’ has served as a primary source 

for classical design for many of America’s architects and 

builders from colonial times to the present; 

Whereas Thomas Jefferson called Palladio’s ‘‘The Four 

Books’’ the ‘‘Bible’’ for architectural practice, and employed Palladio’s principles in establishing lasting standards for America’s public architecture and in constructing his own masterpiece, Monticello; 

Whereas our Nation’s most iconic buildings, including the 

United States Capitol Building and the White House, reflect the influence of Palladio’s architecture through the 

Anglo-Palladian movement, which flourished in the 18th 

century; 

Whereas Palladio’s pioneering reconstruction and restoration 

drawings of ancient Roman temples in ‘‘The Four 


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Books’’ provided inspiration for many of the great American classical edifices of the 19th and 20th centuries, in 

the period known as the American Renaissance; 

Whereas the American Renaissance marked the high point of 

the classical tradition and enriched our country from 

coast to coast with countless architectural works of timeless dignity and beauty, including the John A. Wilson 

Building, the seat of government of the District of Columbia; 

Whereas the American architectural monuments inspired 

both directly and indirectly by the writings, illustrations, 

and designs of Palladio form a proud and priceless part 

of our Nation’s cultural heritage; and 

Whereas organizations, educational institutions, governmental 

agencies, and many other entities are celebrating this 

special 500-year anniversary, including the Italian National Committee for Andrea Palladio 500, the Centro 

Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea Palladio, 

the Palladium Musicum, Inc., the Istituto Italiano di 

Cultura, and the Institute of Classical Architecture and 

Classical America, as well as other Italian and Italian 

American cultural organizations, such as the Italian Heritage and Culture Committee of New York, Inc., and the 

Italian Cultural Society of Washington, DC, Inc., with a 

wide variety of public programs, publications, symposia, 

proclamation ceremonies, and salutes to the genius and 

legacy of Palladio: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) commemorates the 500th anniversary of 

4 Andrea Palladio’s birth; 


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1 (2) recognizes his tremendous influence on 

2 American architecture; and 

3 (3) expresses its gratitude for the enhancement 

4 his life and career has bestowed upon America’s 

5 built environment. 

Æ 


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