[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 150 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7515-H7516]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF ANDREA PALLADIO

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 259) recognizing the 500th 
anniversary of the birth of Italian architect Andrea Palladio.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 259

       Whereas 2008 was the 500th anniversary of the birth year of 
     the Italian architect Andrea Palladio;
       Whereas Andrea Palladio was born Andrea di Pietro in Padua 
     on November 30, 1508;
       Whereas Palladio, born of humble origins, apprenticed as a 
     stonemason in his early life;
       Whereas under the patronage of Count Giangiorgio Trissino 
     (1478-1550), Palladio studied architecture, engineering, 
     topography, and military science in his mid-twenties;
       Whereas in 1540, Count Trissino renamed him ``Palladio'', a 
     reference to the wisdom of Pallas Athena, as well as the 
     Italian form of the name of the Roman writer of the fourth 
     century, Rutilius Taurus Aemilianus Palladius;
       Whereas Palladio's designs for public works, churches, 
     mansions, and villas rank among the most outstanding 
     architectural achievements of the Italian Renaissance;
       Whereas Palladio's surviving buildings are collectively 
     included in the UNESCO World Heritage List;
       Whereas Palladio's treatise, ``The Four Books of 
     Architecture'', ranks as the most influential publication on 
     architecture ever produced and has shaped much of the 
     architectural image of Western civilization;
       Whereas ``The Four Books of Architecture'' has served as a 
     primary source for classical design for many architects and 
     builders in the United States from colonial times to the 
     present;
       Whereas Thomas Jefferson called Palladio's ``The Four Books 
     of Architecture'' the ``Bible'' for architectural practice, 
     and employed Palladio's principles in establishing lasting 
     standards for public architecture in the United States and in 
     constructing his own masterpiece, Monticello;
       Whereas our Nation's most iconic buildings, including the 
     United States Capitol Building and the White House, reflect 
     the influence of Palladio's architecture through the Anglo-
     Palladian movement, which flourished in the 18th century;
       Whereas Palladio's pioneering reconstruction and 
     restoration drawings of ancient Roman temples in ``The Four 
     Books of Architecture'' provided inspiration for many of the 
     great American classical edifices of the 19th and 20th 
     centuries, in the period known as the American Renaissance;
       Whereas the American Renaissance marked the high point of 
     the classical tradition and enriched the United States from 
     coast to coast with countless architectural works of timeless 
     dignity and beauty, including the John A. Wilson Building, 
     the seat of government of the District of Columbia;
       Whereas the American architectural monuments inspired both 
     directly and indirectly by the writings, illustrations, and 
     designs of Palladio form a proud and priceless part of our 
     Nation's cultural heritage; and
       Whereas organizations, educational institutions, 
     governmental agencies, and many other entities have been 
     celebrating this special 500-year anniversary, including the 
     Italian National Committee for Andrea Palladio 500, the 
     Centro Internazionale di Studi di Architettura Andrea 
     Palladio, the Palladium Musicum, Inc., the Istituto Italiano 
     di Cultura, and the Institute of Classical Architecture and 
     Classical America, as well as other Italian and Italian 
     American cultural organizations, such as the Italian Heritage 
     and Culture Committee of New York, Inc., and the Italian 
     Cultural Society of Washington, DC, Inc., with a wide variety 
     of public programs, publications, symposia, proclamation 
     ceremonies, and salutes to the genius and legacy of Palladio: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the 500th anniversary of Andrea Palladio's 
     birth year;
       (2) recognizes his tremendous influence on architecture in 
     the United States; and
       (3) expresses its gratitude for the enhancement his life 
     and career has bestowed upon the Nation's built environment.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This resolution marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of noted 
Italian architect Andrea Palladio.
  Born Andrea di Pietro in Padua on November 30, 1508, Palladio was 
widely acclaimed as the leading architect of the Italian Renaissance.
  Best known for his villas, churches, and public buildings, Palladio 
incorporated many traditional architectural elements of ancient Rome in 
his work to become the favorite architect of Venetian high society.
  Palladio's treatise, ``The Four Books of the Architecture,'' 
canonized what was to become known as the Palladian

[[Page H7516]]

architectural style, which continues to influence Western architecture 
to this day.
  Some of Palladio's surviving villas have been included on the UNESCO 
World Heritage list.
  Not only do his works remain an important part of Italy's rich 
cultural legacy, but his influence on architecture is evident 
throughout much of Europe and America as well.
  Thomas Jefferson made great use of the Palladian style in 
constructing his own masterpiece, Monticello, and establishing lasting 
standards for public architecture in the United States. In fact, one 
has to look no farther than the building we are presently standing in 
to see firsthand Palladio's influence on architectural design.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution and to 
express our gratitude for the impact that Andrea Palladio's life and 
career has had on architecture in our country.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I stand in strong support of this resolution, which recognizes the 
architectural genius of a man who was born over 500 years ago and 
continues to inspire the work of architects today.
  Andrea Palladio was born into a family of modest means and rose 
through society as a result of his hard work, commitment to learning, 
and dedication to his trade.
  Palladio is best known for his work, ``The Four Books of 
Architecture,'' and by 1554 he was named the chief architect of the 
Republic of Venice.
  Palladio's work defined the renaissance style of architecture. Thomas 
Jefferson utilized his principles in designing his home at Monticello, 
as well as when he designed the plans for the University of Virginia.
  The Palladian style served as inspiration to many architects during 
the 18th century when they designed the United States Capitol, where we 
meet today, as well as other government buildings and monuments in and 
around Washington, D.C.
  Indeed, Palladio's influence goes beyond architecture to touch the 
lives of countless Italian immigrants in this country. Americans of 
Italian heritage carry on the Palladio work ethic and commitment to 
excellence.
  In this resolution today, we recall the life of Andrea Palladio and 
recognize the significant contributions he made to Western architecture 
and to the cultural heritage of the United States.

                              {time}  1830

  I urge my colleagues to join in supporting the adoption of this 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).
  Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 
259, honoring the life and work of Andrea Palladio.
  As cochair of the Italian American Caucus, I have had the privilege 
of honoring the contributions of explorers like Christopher Columbus, 
scientists like Galileo, and artists like Constantino Brumidi. 
Constantino did most of the fresco work in this Capitol. He came to the 
United States with nothing in his pocket to become an American citizen. 
He became an American citizen in a very short period of time, and then 
he set out to perform his great works here, not only in the Capitol, 
but in many places in New York City.
  Or how about veterans, like Sergeant John Basilone, who in the Second 
World War was the highest decorated member of the Armed Forces. He was 
wounded at Guadalcanal. He came back to the States and sold war bonds. 
That wasn't his kick. He asked to go back into the Pacific Theater. He 
got to Iwo Jima. The third day he was back, he was killed. In 2005, we 
had a stamp for Sergeant Basilone. Just this year we named a building 
after him in New Jersey. We named a bridge after him, the highest-
decorated person in the history of the Armed Forces of the United 
States of America.
  I bring his name up also because there is a legacy here that is 
shared with American history, and it changes somewhat the stereotyping 
of Italian Americans. I hope it does. I am proud to be an Italian 
American, and I know Mr. Manzullo is, and we know what that 
stereotyping is. Stereotyping was not invented in the 20th century. So 
this is one of the reasons why we have presented this.
  It is only right that today we honor this influential architect, 
Andrea Palladio. He was born Andrea di Pietro in Padua, Italy, on 
November 30, 1508. He spent his life studying architecture, 
engineering, topography and military service.
  As was mentioned, his very famous masterpiece is ``The Four Books of 
Architecture.'' Jefferson called these four books the ``Bible'' for 
architectural practice, the protocol, and he employed Palladio's 
principles in establishing the lasting standards up to this date in 
America and in the constructing of his own masterpiece, Monticello. Our 
Nation's most iconic buildings and the White House itself reflect the 
influence of his great architecture.
  There is no better way to honor the close ties between Italy and the 
United States than to look to our shared cultural history, and much of 
it is shared.
  I would like to thank my Italian American Caucus cochair, Pat Tiberi, 
and Ambassador Giulio Terzi, for all of their work bringing this 
resolution to the floor. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
such an important figure in the history of both our Nation and Italy.
  Mr. MANZULLO. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 259.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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