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

Yıl 2026, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 1, 319 - 335, 27.03.2026

Şebnem Düzgün

https://izlik.org/JA72GL76CX

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Alexander Pope , An Epistle to Burlington , Neo-Palladian Architecture , Country House , Britishness

Destekleyen Kurum

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Proje Numarası

1059B192000333

Teşekkür

I would like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) for supporting my study with the scholarship they provided during my postdoctoral research.

An Epistle to Burlington Adlı Eserde Neo-Palladyan Mimari ve Britanyalılığın İnşası

https://izlik.org/JA72GL76CX

Öz

Alexander Pope’un An Epistle to Burlington (1731) adlı eserinde Burlington, neo-Palladyan kır evi ölçülülük, pratiklik ve zarafetin temsilcisi olan Britanyalı bir virtüöz olarak görülür. Burlington’ın evinin insan eliyle geliştirilmiş doğal dünyayla uyum içindeki sade ama zarif yapısı, Britanya’nın sanatsal zevkinin bir simgesi haline gelir. Ayrıca, Burlington’ın evi ve bahçesi dekoratif değil, toprak sahibi ile işçileri arasındaki karşılıklı ilişkiye dayanan Britanya ahlaki tarım ekonomisinde işlevsel bir role sahiptir. Evi aynı zamanda Protestan Whig’ler tarafından benimsenen klasik erdemleri somutlaştırmakta, Fransız yönetimiyle ilişkili olan baskı ve hegemonyaya karşı özgürlük, hoşgörü ve demokrasiyi çağrıştırmaktadır. Bu çalışma, Alexander Pope’un An Epistle to Burlington adlı eserini inceleyerek, Burlington’ın neo-Palladyan kır evinin, klasik mirasın erdemlerini yeniden değerlendirerek ve sanayi öncesi, feodal Britanya kültürünün mirasını kucaklayarak, Britanyalılığın inşasında ve tanıtımında siyasi bir unsur haline geldiğini göstermeyi amaçlar.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Alexander Pope , An Epistle to Burlington , Neo-Palladyan Mimari , Kır Evi , Britanyalılık

Proje Numarası

1059B192000333

Kaynakça

• Arciszewska, B. (2020). A villa fit for a King: The role of Palladian architecture in the ascendancy of the house of Hanover under George I. RACAR : Revue d’art canadienne, 19(1-2), 41-58.
• Aubrey, J. R. (1983). Timon’s villa: Pope’s composite picture. Studies in Philology, 80(3), 325-348.
• Ayres, P. (1990). Pope’s Epistle to Burlington: The vitruvian analogies. Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, 30(3), 429-444.
• Barczewski, S. (2000). Myth and national identity in nineteenth-century Britain: The legends of King Arthur and Robin Hood. New York: Oxford University Press.