Burlington, Richard Boyle, 3d earl of

Burlington, Richard Boyle, 3d earl of, 1694–1753, English patron and architect of the Neo-Palladian movement. Even before age 21, when he became a member of the Privy Council and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, he showed an interest in architecture. In 1714, Burlington made a tour of Italy and also subscribed to the Vitruvius Britannicus of Colin Campbell. He employed Campbell to remodel the Burlington House in London (c.1717). In 1719, Burlington was again in Italy, specifically to study the architecture of Palladio. Through his patronage of other artists, notably William Kent, and in his own buildings, he furthered the revival of an architecture based on the styles of Palladio and Inigo Jones. The most important of Burlington's own works are the villa for his estate at Chiswick (begun 1725) and the Assembly Room, York (1730).