Neo-Palladianism in the United Kingdom followed a clear formula when it was first introduced in the 1720s: small and compact villas, a central portico and references to the Villa Emo or La Rotonda....Show moreNeo-Palladianism in the United Kingdom followed a clear formula when it was first introduced in the 1720s: small and compact villas, a central portico and references to the Villa Emo or La Rotonda. This concept changed significantly till the 1750s: wings were added, the complexes became wider and references became more diverse. The early 18th century was also a time of change for the political and social situation in the United Kingdom. The Hanoverians took over the throne from the Stuarts in 1714 and the Whigs governed the country for almost three decades. At the same time the world had become more global thanks to colonization and Britain was constantly in conflict with continental Europe. This meant that the collective identity of the British elite had to be newly created. This thesis discusses how Neo-Palladian country houses on the English countryside were used to create this new collective identity of the British elite in the 1750s?Show less