The Italianate style Estelle Musson House in New Orleans, Louisiana, was designed by architect James Freret and built in 1881. Musson was a cousin to the French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas and was the wife of his brother Rene from 1979 to 1879. While visiting New Orleans in 1872, Degas painted a portrait of Estelle Musson Degas that is now at the New Orleans Museum of Art (below).
This is a late example of the Italianate style, which was first used in the United States in the 1850s and became widespread after the Civil War, with examples found in all parts of the United States. The use of the style for Queen Victoria’s country villa, Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, popularized the style in the U.K. and U.S.
Understanding the style of a house will help you know which features are character-defining so you can prioritize their preservation.
Italianate is one of 25 historic architectural styles described and illustrated in Chapter 2 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Select preservation titles by other authors are also available in our shop! Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!
“Restoring Your Historic House is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2024.
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