While the Italianate style was so popular, Americans embraced this next style, called Second Empire. During this time, French culture pervaded art, architecture and planning theory in this period. This style was imported from France during mid 19th century and was the style used in the great rebuilding of Paris under Napoleon III, in which it became a clever and stylish was to add an extra story to a rowhouse, especially where lot size was limited. Aptly named for the 17th century Francois Mansart, whose idea it was to create as much space as possible above the cornice thereby circumventing a tax requirement in place at the time in France, the identifying element for this style is the Mansard roof. It has a steep sided roof that is a full story high with dormers set above the main cornice to light the upper space. The roof sides may be curved or straight and often shingled in multi-colored slate laid in intricate patterns.
Houses are usually of 2-storey with a third storey in the roof. The facade is of three or more bays with large single pane, double-hung sash windows arranged symmetrically in pairs or threes. They were generally in Italianate style. Windowpanes continued to get larger as the century progressed, appearing first as 6 over 6 double hung sashes, later 2 over 2, and finally 1 over 1 sashes, with the wood muntins dividing the panes also getting smaller.
While most New England houses are wood framed, brick and stone examples can also be found in urban areas with heavy ornate trim especially at windows and doorways. Holding it all down was "the roof", which helped contribute to its heavy, serious image. Ornamentation is drawn from Classical and Renaissance sources and is very similar to Italianate. (During the 1870s, some earlier Italianate and even Federal era houses were stylishly updated by the addition of a Mansard roof).
Brick was the preferred material for mansions, but most mansard-roofed houses were of balloon-frame
construction with wooden siding. Characteristically the original exterior colors were light, to resemble stone. Often wood trim was painted with pigment mixed with sand to simulate stone. The style was very popular throughout New England, and virtually every town has some examples. It is safe to call any 19th century building with a mansard roof, "Second Empire".
Houses are usually of 2-storey with a third storey in the roof. The facade is of three or more bays with large single pane, double-hung sash windows arranged symmetrically in pairs or threes. They were generally in Italianate style. Windowpanes continued to get larger as the century progressed, appearing first as 6 over 6 double hung sashes, later 2 over 2, and finally 1 over 1 sashes, with the wood muntins dividing the panes also getting smaller.
While most New England houses are wood framed, brick and stone examples can also be found in urban areas with heavy ornate trim especially at windows and doorways. Holding it all down was "the roof", which helped contribute to its heavy, serious image. Ornamentation is drawn from Classical and Renaissance sources and is very similar to Italianate. (During the 1870s, some earlier Italianate and even Federal era houses were stylishly updated by the addition of a Mansard roof).
Brick was the preferred material for mansions, but most mansard-roofed houses were of balloon-frame
construction with wooden siding. Characteristically the original exterior colors were light, to resemble stone. Often wood trim was painted with pigment mixed with sand to simulate stone. The style was very popular throughout New England, and virtually every town has some examples. It is safe to call any 19th century building with a mansard roof, "Second Empire".