During the Enlightenment, from the middle of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century, artists began to reject the late baroque and rococo style prevalent at the time. Although romanticism was also popular during this period, it was the simple classical lines of Greek and Roman architecture that appealed to most artists and influenced their new designs. Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), who designed St. Paul's Cathedral in London and many other churches and homes, was the most influential neoclassical architect in Great Britain.
One of the main reasons for renewed interest in classical antiquity was the popularity of European travel in the 18th century. Elite young men undertook the so-called Grand Tour, spending a year or more traveling across the continent. This brought the architecture of ancient Rome and Greece to a wider audience. Archaeological excavations revealed the treasures of ancient Herculaneum and Pompeii. The ruins of the Parthenon in Athens, one of the greatest monuments from classical antiquity, influenced neoclassical architects, who incorporated its features into their new building designs.
The neoclassical architectural style was sometimes known as the Greek Revival. Some of the new 18th-century buildings were topped with classical-style Greek statues, while others copied the colonnades and columns found in ancient Greek buildings. Reproductions of ancient Greek sculpture began to appear on the outer stonework of some buildings as frescoes and friezes.
In addition to Sir Christopher Wren, one of the most famous architects of the neoclassical style was the Scotsman Robert Adam (1728-1792), who was responsible for the elegant Charlotte Square in Edinburgh's New Town. He and his brother James wrote about their theories in "The Works in Architecture of Robert and James Adam (1773-78)" that was published in 1822. Adam's colleague and rival, William Chambers (1723-1796), was the architect to King George III and was responsible for Somerset House, which is adorned with huge columns influenced by antiquity.
The antique Greek style spread across Britain, France and Germany and eventually made its way to America. According to "Art, A World History", the Virginia State Capitol (1785-96) designed by Thomas Jefferson made use of Ionic-style ornamentation. In Washington, D.C., the United States Capitol building, White House and other government buildings were also built in a neoclassical style.