lements of Classical design were used with great success in Palladios time and were also used by architects in later periods, such as the Baroque Age.Christopher Wren, an architect of the Baroque Age, also used Classical design elements in his works as a reflection of Classical ideals. Wren is credited with the design of a number of buildings in England, but is best known for the churches he was commissioned to design and rebuild after the Great Fire of London in 1666 (Matthews and Platt 394). His masterpiece is St. Pauls Cathedral in London (Matthews and Platt 394), which, to this day, is one of Londons most renowned churches. St. Pauls colonnaded portico is a prime example of the Classical elements employed by Wren. The colonnaded portico of St Pauls Cathedral is surmounted by another colonnaded portico, creating a number of clean, ordered lines that add to the symmetry and mathematical proportion of the church. Wren also used the dome on the cathedral as a display of Classical design elements. The dome creates a central point of focus for aesthetics and symmetry. The symmetry of St. Pauls Cathedral is similar to the symmetry of Palladios Villa Rotunda, and is also similar to designs seen in American Neo-Classical buildings.The Neo-Classical Period evidenced Classical design elements that can be seen in buildings of the former British colonies in the United States. The Neo-Classical Period, synonymous with the Federal Period in the United States, was a time when the designs and ideas of architects such as Thomas Jefferson became widely used. Jefferson, historically revered as a statesman and politician, was also a brilliant architect and urban planner (Unknown 1). Jeffersons Virginia home Monticello, meaning little mountain in Italian (Unknown 1), exemplifies his use of Classical design elements. The colonnaded portico of Monticello allowed a smooth transition between the home and the serene setting of the surrounding groun...
