The Italianate style developed in England out of the picturesque movement of the 1840s - a rebellion against the formal classical styles that had dominated art and architecture for the previous 200 years. A reinterpretation of Italian Renaissance country villas. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/local/20766
I·tal'ian·ate transitive verb [ Confer Italian italianare .] To render Italian, or conformable to Italian customs; to Italianize. [ R.] Ascham. Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/I/104